Rahm leaves PGA Tour to join LIV Golf in £450m deal

Masters champion Jon Rahm has signed a deal to join LIV Golf, reportedly worth upwards of £450million.

The 29-year-old Spaniard is the latest high-profile name to join the breakaway league first formed in 2021, financed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

His decision comes following previous criticism of the rebel competition, which is currently in negotiations to merge with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

World No3 Rahm said: "Every decision I feel like we make in life, there will be somebody who agrees and likes it and somebody who doesn't.

"The money is great. It's wonderful but what I've said before is true. 

"I do not play golf for the money. I play golf for the love of the game and for the love of golf but as a husband and as a father and family man, I have a duty to my family to give them the best opportunities and the most amount of resources possible.

"I'm an ambitious person but I'm not a greedy one. 

"I am proud to join LIV Golf and be part of something new that is bringing growth to the sport."

Rahm will play alongside fellow Europeans Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia and the likes of five-time major champion Brooks Koepka. 

Poulter, Westwood and Garcia were made ineligible for this year's Ryder Cup, won by Team Europe in Rome, but Rory McIlroy now claims the rules may have to be changed to allow Rahm to compete in the 2025 edition in Bethpage Black, New York.

McIlroy told Sky Sports: "Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility.

"There's absolutely no question about that — I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."

The Northern Irishman added: "You're basically cannibalising yourself as a sport, sort of the same as what boxing has done with all the different organisations and a few other sports have as well.

"To me, having all the best golfers under the one umbrella is the best way forward because I think that's really what the public wants."