
According to multiple reports on Thursday, golf superstar Jon Rahm is getting ready to leave the PGA Tour and join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
According to several people with knowledge of the situation, Rahm, who won the Masters in April and is currently ranked third in the world, may announce the newest member of the LIV Golf league as early as Thursday afternoon, NBC Sports reported on Thursday.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have a turbulent history, and this move would be the latest big development in their turbulent history. The deadline for the two leagues to decide whether to proceed with their proposed merger is December 31.
There is a lot of conjecture in the golf world regarding the possibility that LIV is using a deal with Rahm as leverage to get the PGA Tour to approve the merger.
CNBC reached out to LIV Golf for comment, and they responded with an automated message.
ESPN revealed on Thursday that Rahm’s contract, which is valued at over $300 million, may last longer than three years. In contrast, Phil Mickelson, a former member of the PGA Tour, signed a $200 million contract with LIV in 2022. According to ESPN, Rahm might also receive a share of a new team in the league if LIV signs more PGA Tour players.
The PGA made the announcement last month that league members would have the chance to purchase stock in the new business created following the PGA-LIV Golf merger.
Other golfers in the sport have a point of contention because LIV has been known to poach PGA players on multiple occasions. The second-ranked player in the world, Rory McIlroy, declared in July that if LIV Golf became “the last place to play golf on earth,” he would retire.
The news of a deal with Rahm prompted the PGA Tour to decline comment. Rahm’s legal representation agency also declined to comment. Represented by another firm, Rahm did not immediately reply to a request.
Rahm was reportedly working on a deal with LIV, according to a Wall Street Journal report.