Jon Rahm: “The PGA Tour is changing, but I think more golfers will go to LIV Golf”

PGA Tour fifth-placed Spaniard Jon Rahm says he expects extra gamers to flock to Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2023 and a tense Masters champions dinner.

Rahm spoke forward of Thursday’s begin of the PGA Event of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii, the place the winners of the qualifying tournaments are chosen for the Championship Spherical.

Spaniard, 2021 US Open champion, predicted extra golfers would depart the PGAregardless of a rise in money prizes at some occasions, with an even bigger bag of cash for LIV Golf.

“I believe everyone knows the place we stand,” Rahm mentioned. “I believe there’ll nonetheless be gamers switching to LIV.”

“However for many of us, I believe we have seen the place the PGA Tour goes. They’re making the required modifications to adapt to the brand new period and I believe it is higher for everybody.”

PGA has elevated the prize cash at a restricted variety of occasions to forestall the perfect expertise from leaving.Like British Open champion Australian Cam Smith.

“It has been an thrilling yr. We’re all questioning the way it will go,” Rahm added. “We’re all excited to see the way it seems.”

The Masters introduced final month that it’s going to not change its qualification standards for the 2023 Masters to make sure LIV Golf gamers can compete.

This consists of latest Inexperienced Jacket (Masters) winners, together with three-time occasion winner Phil Mickelson, fellow People Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson; Spanish Sergio García and South African Charl Schwartzel.

And they’re going to share the inexperienced with Tiger Woods, the proud defender of the PGA, amongst others.

AFP

Augusta Nationwide President Fred Ridley, to not point out LIV Golf, made it clear that leaving was an undesirable occasion.

“Sadly, latest occasions have divided males’s skilled golf, diminishing the virtues of the sport and the vital legacies of those that constructed it,” Ridley mentioned. Stated.

Among the many improvements of LIV Golf are tournaments that final three days as a substitute of 4, with no courts and a restricted variety of 48 contributors. Gamers are allowed to put on shorts (nonetheless prohibited in conventional golf) and music is performed from audio system all through the course.

However the largest draw for gamers is monetary, with hefty rewards like a $200 million jackpot to 52-year-old American Phil Mickelson.