A lot has happened in the past couple of months in the sport of golf. But the spotlight was indubitably focused on the current world No. 3 jumping ship to LIV Golf. Yes, we are talking about Jon Rahm himself. Even so, from his defection, throughout the entire process until ‘a while back’, there was one thing that PGA Tour loyalists used to constantly ridicule him about—none other than the Spaniard leaving the legacy of the sport for dollar bills.

Notice how we used ‘a while back’ earlier? Why, you might ask? Well, it’s all thanks to Rahm himself. The golfer managed to clinch a win with his team at the first LIV Golf event in Mayakoba, finishing in third place. His performance, earning him rewards and acclaim, has indubitably helped him move on past the jibes that came about him leaving behind his legacy for money, all the while proving why he is still one of the best in the game!

Jon Rahm’s dollar bill move to LIV Golf: the ideal choice?

The Spanish professional managed to register a score of 10 under 203 to help his team clinch their first title in their debut tournament itself while finishing inside the top 3. This helped him rake in a cut of $1,250,000 for his T3 finish, tying himself with Dean Burmester, and $3 million for the team win as well. These amounts, coupled with the amount received for jumping over to LIV Golf, do put his career earnings at an all-time high following just a single event on the circuit.

The golfer had jumped ships back in 2023 for a reported deal worth $550 million, following which many in the community went gaga over the same. There were a lot of different opinions in the golf world. Some, including the likes of Rory McIlroy, supported the athlete, while many, including Fred Couples and others, ridiculed him for defecting while claiming to be part of something better for the sport.

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Nevertheless, his jump sure did come at the right time. The reason? It’s not just because of the money he raked in but also because of his defection coming at a time when he is in superb form, all the while being in the midst of a chaotic situation in the golf world. Chaotic? Well, it refers to none other than the whole confusion regarding the merger and the delay of Tiger Woods’s TGL.

The Spaniard’s withdrawal from TGL did help him focus more on his deal with LIV Golf. What’s more, although the PGA Tour did suspend him from the circuit, positive news regarding the upcoming framework agreement would indubitably allow him to come back on tour and possibly play in TGL as well. Till then, he can reign supreme in LIV Golf.

Does a successful merger indicate Jon Rahm’s return to TGL?

Back in November, before his defection, the athlete had expressed his intent to not participate in the first season of TGL. He must have known in the back of his mind that the shift to LIV Golf might inevitably push him out of the tech-infused league. However, fortune seemed to favor Rahm, as the launch of the new venture was pushed back by a year owing to an accident at the venue.

Nevertheless, his official confirmation of the same even indicates how saddened he was to withdraw from the league. Moreover, the pro had even gone ahead to dub it a “great opportunity” that he might grab hold of with both hands if presented to him again. But for that to happen, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have to come to an agreement.

Thus, his discontinuation came at the right time since there is now a very good chance of him making it back onto the TGL roster. If the merger between the tours goes well, then he might play in the venture that Woods is going to launch in tandem with the PGA Tour.

Rahm’s comeback: Is the PGAT-LIV Golf merger imminent?

There have been a lot of reports being made in the community regarding the merger. The latest reports indicate that the agreement is close to a finish line while allowing the Saudi-backed league to remain separate. If everything goes as the rumors suggest and the merger gets a positive update by the end of the year, then the 29-year-old would be able to play on both circuits.

However, as of now, what has been confirmed is the PGA Tour’s deal with Strategic Sports Group. Even though the inception of the Saudi-backed league set the ball rolling for a merger, the golfer’s defection came at a crucial and perfect time, which pushed the Jay Monahan-led circuit to work more on the deal with SSG and PIF, leading to the current situation.

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Thus, if one looks at the Spaniard’s defection through each and every lens available, it wouldn’t be too much of an overreaction to call it a perfect move by the golfer. Why? All thanks to the effect it had on the golf world and the opportunity it provided him with during a chaotic time, allowing him to rake in accolades and dollar bills as well as prove himself with a win.

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