Jon Rahm has opened up about the shift in the type of questions he’s been getting since joining LIV Golf, even expressing empathy with basketball icon LeBron James.
Two years after his triumph at Augusta National, Rahm is back at this week’s Masters, eyeing his second victory on the storied course by Sunday. The past year has seen Rahm enter a new phase in his career, having made the leap to LIV Golf at the close of 2023 in a reported $600 million deal.
His decision came half a year following the initial agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, yet a final deal remains elusive. As a result, players like Rahm are barred from PGA Tour events due to their participation in LIV competitions, leading to inquiries about his vision for golf’s future – questions he often finds himself unable to answer.
Speaking to the press in Georgia, Rahm shared his experience: “I mean, it’s a change, yeah. There were a few times where there were a lot of questions that I didn’t really have an answer to, and I tried to, and I just really didn’t… The state of the game and what’s happening.
“We don’t know. No one knows. We all want a solution, and it’s hard to give one. When it comes to this week, last year for me was tough because it was the first major after joining LIV and I was also defending, so there was a lot going on that week, a lot of new things, new locker room, having the Champions Dinner. It was a lot to adjust to.”
Rahm then referenced Los Angeles Lakers star James. He added: “It’s nothing different to what many other athletes deal with on a daily basis,” Rahm explained. “If you ever see press conferences that LeBron James gives, it just feels like they’re out to get him every single day. I don’t envy him one bit in that regard. But no, not that big a change in that part. I think a lot of it was more internal in my case than external.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Now in his second season with LIV Golf and coming off a successful first year with a 2024 individual title and an $18 million bonus, Spanish golfer Rahm hasn’t clinched a win in 2025 yet but boasts four top 10 finishes. Discussing his form and reflection on a challenging 2024 major season, Rahm shared: “Feeling very good.
“Not my favorite major season last year, that’s true. Didn’t play great here, didn’t play great at the PGA, and wasn’t even able to tee it up at the U.S. Open. I was very happy to finish up there at The Open on a very challenging week. At least set the tone hopefully for this year, and feel like I’m playing much better golf coming into this week.
“Playing at Doral last week was extremely challenging. It was definitely one of the hardest setups I’ve played. And besides one bad score on 17 on Sunday, which was actually one of the better swings of the week that led to a very bad number, I feel really good. I feel like I played better than obviously the score reflects, but at the end of the day, it’s golf. Feeling really, really good about this year in general.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
