Jon Rahm told by former PGA Tour winner: "Your comments were shocking"
Former PGA Tour winner and policy board member Joe Ogilvie has claimed Jon Rahm's comments after joining LIV Golf were 'shocking'.
Former PGA Tour winner and current policy board member Joe Ogilvie says Jon Rahm's comments about being a catalyst for a peace deal were 'shocking'.
Rahm made the switch to the Saudi-backed league on 8 December 2023 for a reported £450m ($566.4m).
There is absolutely no doubt Rahm's decision to join the breakaway tour was made easier given his Masters victory gave him a lifetime of starts at Augusta National plus five-year exemptions into the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship.
Rahm's decision to bolt from the PGA Tour also came six months after the North American circuit announced a 'framework agreement' with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard reeled off a number of reasons as to why he joined LIV.
And he also claimed he believed his move would help both tours come to a swift agreement.
Ogilvie told Golfweek in an explosive interview he believed the words that fell from Rahm's mouth were hard to believe.
"It was certainly shocking" he said.
"It was a negotiating tactic to take a player like Jon, and for Jon to go. That was definitely a shot across the bow."
Rahm later admitted some PGA Tour players, such as Tiger Woods, ghosted him for his decision.
Big cat also did the same to Bryson DeChambeau when he had a sudden urge to grow the game.
According to Rahm, one player 'refused to even look at me' at Augusta National at the first men's major of the year.
What did Jon Rahm say?
Rahm made the headlines before his Masters defence when he spoke to BBC Sport.
He claimed he thought his LIV switch would help expedite an agreement.
"I understood my position, yes," he said.
"And I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step towards some kind of agreement, yes.
"Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement. But, unfortunately, it's not up to me.
"But I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process.
"But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself."
Watched our latest YouTube video?
Ben joined GolfMagic as Content Executive in September 2021 just before the Ryder Cup and has contributed significantly to the growth of the site. Ben now assumes our Content Manager role, specialising in PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf content.
