Jon Rahm has shot down talk that PGA Tour players should be compensated for turning down LIV Golf after the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Public Investment Fund announced an agreement last month.
According to a report in The Times, Golf Saudi investors are planning a compensation fund for PGA Tour stars who stayed loyal to the American-based circuit and missed out on hundreds of millions of dollars to join the breakaway LIV competition.
It is not known who turned down LIV, but World No.2 Rory McIlroy, who previously said “he was never offered anything from LIV”, suggested that those that were, but sided with the PGA Tour, are entitled to feel aggrieved when the news broke of the agreement.
“There has to be something for those guys,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports, adding that they probably felt that they were now “questioning that decision.”
Asked whether he was referring to some form of financial compensation, he added: “Yeah, I think so. Ultimately I think that’s what we’re talking about, yeah.”
However, Rahm disagrees with Ryder Cup teammate and potential plans to compensate players.
“I understand the PGA Tour wanting to do something for those players who helped and stayed on the PGA Tour, but at the same time — and I’ll be the first one to say — I wasn’t forced into anything. It was my choice to stay,” said Rahm.
“Do I think they absolutely should be and there must be a compensation? No. I just stayed because I think it’s the best choice for myself and for the golf I want to play.
“Now, with that said, if they want to do it, I’m not going to say no.
“We all had the chance to go to LIV and take the money and we chose to stay at the PGA Tour for whatever reason we chose.
“As I’ve said before, I already make an amazing living doing what I do. I’m extremely thankful, and that all happened because of the platform the PGA Tour provided me.”
Rahm was talking ahead of the 151st Open Championship, where he is bidding to become just the second Spaniard to lift the Claret Jug after the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
“It would obviously be an incredible feeling,” he said.
“To win the first one to win an Open for Spain since Seve would be quite special. It would be a true honour to get there, to get to three majors, to be second on the Spanish. No matter who wins, it’s going to be a great championship.”
