Has the Great Divide in golf finally been solved? Heritage, devotion, and intense competitiveness have always been hallmarks of the game of golf. However, the contentious rise of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour merger talks that followed have caused the sport to undergo unheard-of developments in recent years.

Once at the epicenter of the fiercest conflicts in golf, Jon Rahm is currently at the lowest point of his career. Fans and experts are in disbelief about Rahm’s abrupt decline in the golf industry rankings, while PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is taking further steps to unite the top players under a single tour. In the meantime, fellow professional Shane Lowry has hinted at a wider rift among players by expressing his annoyance at Rahm’s choice to join LIV Golf. Thus, let’s take a more detailed look at these latest off-course happenings.

A new low for Jon Rahm as Monahan advocates for the unification of golf

Jon Rahm’s been a top-50 OWGR staple for over eight years, rising with a stunning win at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. Since then, he has won two major titles, including the Masters in 2023, and played a significant role in several Ryder Cup triumphs. But now, the Spaniard is in a strange place, looking in from the outside. The news was announced via a tweet by golf analyst @VC606. It stated that “Jon Rahm will drop out of the top 50 in the #OWGR for the first time in just over 8 years.”

The sharp decline came as the PGA Tour and Jay Monahan ramped up efforts to unify pro golf. At the 2025 Genesis Invitational, Monahan faced tough questions about LIV Golf’s future and if its days were numbered. “What it means is the reunification of the game, which is what we have been and are focused on,” he responded. Adding to his response, he also stated, “Candidly, that’s what fans want. So when you talk about reunification, that’s all the best players in the world competing with each other and against each other.”

Monahan wants pro golf back to its pre-LIV days, with all the top players under one roof. But where does that leave Rahm? His shocking switch to LIV Golf in late 2023, reportedly for over $500 million, shook the sport to its core. But that move is costing Rahm big time. With PGA Tour players back on top and LIV Golf still chasing OWGR points, his spot as a top golfer is at risk. And not everyone’s cool with his decision, particularly Shane Lowry (uncertainty everywhere). So, let’s examine why.

Shane Lowry finds Rahm’s LIV decision annoying

Despite Rahm’s unwavering commitment to joining LIV Golf, not all of his contemporaries share this perspective. Known for speaking his mind, Shane Lowry didn’t mince words, slamming Rahm’s PGA Tour exit reasonings. “I don’t know how you can sit there and say you’re doing it for anything other than money. And look, that’s fine, but don’t tell us otherwise. They own you now,” he said in an interview with The Irish Independent.

Lowry’s annoyance is indicative of a rising opinion among PGA Tour fans who believe Rahm’s action betrays the spirit of competition in the sport. Rahm has frequently stated that he wanted “a new challenge” and to “grow the game globally,” but detractors contend that the financial rewards were just too great to pass up.

Rahm’s move isn’t just stemming opinions, it’s costing him. With LIV players shut out of OWGR points, his ranking is sinking fast. Meanwhile, PGA Tour pros keep climbing with full schedules, ranking boosts, and clear paths to majors.

The golfer continues to be the center of attention as Monahan’s drive for reunion gathers steam. Will LIV Golf eventually push its way into the official rankings, or will he come to regret leaving the PGA Tour? Like, one thing’s for sure, Rahm’s crown is slipping and the fight is far from done.