Jon Rahm’s move to LIV could be the catalyst for golf’s war to end and that’s what he wants

As Jon Rahm revealed his Spanish feast for the Masters champions dinner, LIV’s biggest recruit made clear his hopes for the future.

Reigning Masters champion and star LIV recruit Jon Rahm says it would be “weird” if he never got to compete at events like The Players Championship again as the PGA Tour’s senior players get involved in merger talks with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

Speaking ahead of his Masters defence at Augusta in April, as he outlined his plans for a Spanish-style champions dinner, Rahm conceded missing the opportunity to defend PGA Tour titles he won in 2023 was the hardest part his nine-figure move to the Saudi-backed LIV tour.

Merger talks between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backers, continued this week, with several PGA players involved, including Tiger Woods, in a high-level meeting.

Rahm was not involved and while he said he hadn’t had “any bad experiences” since joining LIV, Rahm remained hopeful of a unification soon so he could get back to some of his favourite events, including The Players, which was won last weekend by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

“I hope I get to tee it up at The Players again,” Rahm said.

“It would definitely be a weird feeling if I never get to do it again.

“I’m not going to lie; for everybody who said this (move to LIV) would be easy, some things have been, but not being able to defend some titles that mean a lot to me hasn’t.”

The Champions Dinner, served in honor of Mr. @JonRahmOfficial. #themasterspic.twitter.com/r9oalTrFtf

— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 19, 2024

Rahm has been less vocal than other leading players about the need to end golf’s war, adamant he respects everybody on both sides and the game of golf “above all”.

But he also knows that “some type of union” is best for the game.

“I don’t know what that looks like, but again, I just want to be able to see the best in the world compete against the best in the world, whatever that looks like,” he said.

“I think there’s room for all of us, and there’s room for the game of golf to get to the next level and have more viewership options.

“I think I’ve said before when it comes to football, for example, or soccer, you have the Premier League, you have the Spanish League, you have the Bundesliga, Serie A, you have the French league, and also on top of that you have the main two European events, right, the Champions League and the Europa Cup, and everybody watches all of those no matter what team they support.

“So I think there is a way of having golf deliver and be able to put out a different product that’s better for everybody, not me or for players but for spectators in general.”