Jon Rahm is undeniably one of the best golfers in the world. But his decision to switch ships has cost him the opportunity to defend some of his most prestigious titles in 2024, which he won on the PGA Tour this year.

The two-time major winner signed a reported $566 million deal with the Greg Norman-led league in December 2023. After his move and the PGA Tour suspension, he is no longer eligible to play in the PGA Tour events. Let us take a look at the defending champion opportunities that the Spaniard had let go of.

1. The Sentry Tournament of Champions

The Sеntry Tournament of Champions is the calendar-year opening event of the PGA Tour. The world no. 3 won the 2023 edition by two shots over Collin Morikava, earning $2.7 million and 550 FedEx Cup points. Notably, Rahm had previously finished as runner-up at the event in 2018 and 2022 and was looking forward to returning to the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Hawaii. But his LIV Golf affiliation has now prevented him from doing so.

2. The American Exprеss

Two weeks later, Jon Rahm won the 2023 edition of the American Express by one stroke. He defeated the PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson. The LIV Golfer shot 27-under-par for four rounds and earned $1,440,000 from the purse of $8,000,000. After winning, the Spaniard said, “A little lucky that Davis’s putt didn’t go in on 17, and a little fortunate that his ball just got over the green on 18.”.

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However, Rahm had previously won the event in 2018, but now he is barred from competing in it. As a result, he will have to miss out on the chance to repeat his success in 2024.

3. Thе Gеnеsis Invitational

The Genesis Invitational is a prestigious and historic event on the PGA Tour. It is played at the iconic Riviеra Country Club, organized by the Tiger Woods Foundation. Rahm beat Max Homa by two strokes and earned $3,600,00. He also consolidated his position as the world number one and received the trophy from Woods himself.

These testimonials not only represent earnings, rankings, and points for Rahm but also memories, emotions, and achievements that he will cherish for the rest of his career. By joining the 54-hole league, he has missed the chance to add to his legacy at these events and possibly others. Of course, Rahm still has the opportunity to play in the major tournaments.

Also Read: 3 Major Takeaways as Jon Rahm’s $566M LIV Golf Switch Gets Pulled Apart by Ex-Teammate Shane Lowry

However, Rahm’s loss may not be permanent. There is still a possibility that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will reach a merger agreement by the end of 2023, which could allow LIV Golf players to participate in PGA Tour events and vice versa. If the merger goes through, Rahm may be able to reclaim his titles and his status on the PGA Tour. But until then, he will have to live with the consequences of his choice.

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