In a groundbreaking move, Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion and world number three, has reportedly signed a deal with LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed golf league, for an amount exceeding €525 million. While the agreement has not been officially announced, multiple sources have suggested that the deal is final, pending any last-minute issues. Spanish sports daily Marca.com has claimed that Rahm’s contract is set to be the largest in the history of sports, exceeding €520 million. The deal will see Rahm joining LIV Golf, along with fellow Spaniards Sergio García, Eugenio López Chacarra, and David Puig, on the Saudi-financed circuit, which is set to kick off its 2024 season in Mexico in February. This move by Rahm adds a twist to the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, raising doubts about his future participation in the Ryder Cup.

Rahm, known for his loyalty to the PGA Tour, has previously expressed sympathy for players like Phil Mickelson and Sergio García. While he acknowledges the financial benefits of the deal, Rahm has emphasized that his passion for the game and the pursuit of playing against the best in the world drive his decisions. LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman reportedly approached Rahm in early 2022, emphasizing financial figures rather than the history of golf. The move by Rahm comes amid concerns raised by other golfers, such as Rory McIlroy, who fears that the sport is “cannibalizing itself” with two separate tours dividing the golfing community. McIlroy believes that having all the best golfers under one umbrella, particularly within the PGA Tour, is the best way forward to maintain the sport’s relevance throughout the year.

If the reported deal is finalized, Rahm’s move to LIV Golf will bring together two of the last four major winners, with Rahm as the Masters champion and Brooks Koepka as the US PGA winner. LIV Golf players would collectively hold seven of the last 15 grand slams, 11 of the last 23, and feature five former world number ones. The move adds another layer of competition between golf tours, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining unity and viewership in the sport.