Jordan Spieth’s 8-word message to Jon Rahm amid LIV Golf rumor

A couple of weeks in the past, Jordan Spieth changed Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour Coverage Board, entrenching himself into the PGA Tour’s ongoing negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund (PIF).

The 2 sides have till Dec. 31, 2023, to strike an settlement, however with a month earlier than the deadline, rumors of Jon Rahm heading to LIV Golf have picked up considerably.

What which means in the long run will not be but recognized, however Spieth was requested about this potential improvement after his second spherical on the Hero World Problem.

“We actually hope that he’s persevering with with us,” Spieth stated.

“I do know there’s been some guys which have talked to him. I do know he’s possibly weighing some choices, possibly not. I actually don’t know, so I don’t need to insult him and say he’s weighing choices if he already is aware of he’s not or he’s. You understand, that’s considerably out of my management in a means.”

Photograph by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour through Getty Photos

Rahm was supposedly supplied round $600 million to hitch LIV Golf, a determine no different golfer has acquired.

However everybody within the {golfing} world is aware of of Rahm’s pedigree. He has the chance to change into one of many biggest Spanish—and maybe European—golfers of all time. The Barrika, Spain native gained the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and can arrive because the defending champion at Augusta Nationwide subsequent April.

“I’m unsure particularly how it might influence these negotiations, however all in all, Jon Rahm is without doubt one of the greatest property now we have on the PGA Tour,” Spieth added.

“So it might not be superb for us normally as a result of we need to play in opposition to the very best gamers on the planet, and that’s what Jon is.”

Rahm is at the moment ranked third within the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), trailing solely Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. The OWGR has change into fairly controversial currently, so if we use DataGolf, one other metric, Rahm is available in because the fifth-ranked participant.

Regardless, Rahm is little doubt one of many high gamers on the planet. And as Spieth alluded to, he is a crucial asset to the PGA Tour, the league Rahm got here of age with, and the tour that he pledged his allegiance to on the 2022 Genesis Invitational.

“That is my official, my one and solely time I’ll discuss this, the place I’m formally declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour,” Rahm stated in 2022.

Photograph by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Photos

Then, 4 months in the past, Rahm “laughed off” the rumors that related him with LIV Golf.

“I’ve by no means preferred the format [of LIV Golf],” Rahm stated on Golf Sin Etiquetas, a Spanish golf podcast. “And I all the time have a great time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia within the observe rounds of majors.”

But, some rumors have indicated that LIV Golf, which employs a 54-hole format, would alter its construction to carry Rahm in. Maybe they might change to 72-hole stroke play tournaments, which is what the PGA Tour has all the time performed.

“If it had been me, and I don’t even know if I ever acquired a proposal, however I like the way in which that I play 4 rounds of stroke play the identical means we play the majors,” Spieth added.

“I consider that we’re taking part in in opposition to the very best gamers on the planet, and it’s what I’ve all the time needed to do is to play out right here and try to catch PGA Tour wins, catch the legends of the sport. It’s a historical past factor and the cash’s a bonus.”

Rahm, too, loves the historical past of golf, with the nice Seve Ballesteros serving as his idol. Nonetheless, who is aware of the place the two-time main champion will likely be when the primary shot is struck at The Masters subsequent spring. Possibly he’s with the PGA Tour, possibly he’s on LIV. Both means, Rahm will all the time be thought to be a generational expertise.

And Spieth is aware of that too.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.