RAHM BOLTS FOR LIV IN SURPRISE BLOW TO PGA
Masters champion Jon Rahm bolted for Saudifunded LIV Golf on Thursday for what’s believed to be more money than the PGA Tour’s entire prize fund, a stunning blow that deepens the divide in golf as the two sides were negotiating a commercial deal.
Rahm confirmed the move in an interview with Fox News. Wearing a black letterman’s jacket with the LIV logo, he said it was not an easy decision.
“I’ve been very happy,” Rahm said. “But there is a lot of things that LIV Golf has to offer that were very enticing.”
He said he would keep private how much the deal was worth amid reports that put his compensation in the $500 million range, which likely would include equity in his new team. The PGA Tour’s total purse in 2023 was about $460 million.
The development comes 25 days before the deadline for the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund try to finalize their shocking June 6 agreement to become commercial partners in a for-profit enterprise, along with the European tour.
Talks have been going slowly, and Tiger Woods said last week there were a lot of moving parts. The biggest moving part turned out to be the 29-year-old Rahm, the No. 3 player in the world and a two-time major champion approaching his prime, being the latest to defect.
Rahm had been adamant that he has enough money, he cares only about history and legacy and only recently said he “laughed” whenever he saw his name linked to LIV.
“It was a great offer. The money is great, obviously it’s wonderful,” Rahm said. “But what I 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, as a father and as a family man I have a duty to my family to give them the best opportunities and the most amount of resources possible and that is where that comes in.”
He remains eligible for the majors for the next five years — the Masters for life, the U.S. Open until 2031. Still to be determined is how the move affects his eligibility for the Ryder Cup.
More golf
Dean Burmester’s bid for a third straight victory on the European tour got off to a solid start after the South African golfer shot 3-under 69 in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to lie four strokes off first-round leader Robin Williams on Thursday.
Women’s college basketball
San Diego State went across town to Jenny Craig Pavilion and knocked off San Diego 67-63 in a nonconference game. Adryana Quezada led the Aztecs (6-4) with 18 points and nine rebounds. Veronica Sheffey had 19 points in the first half for San Diego (3-6).
In Top 25 games, Alissa Pili scored a season-high 31 points as No. 11 Utah used a big fourth quarter to beat Saint Joseph’s 74-48 . ...
Makayla Timpson had 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season and No. 20 Florida State beat Jacksonville 99-73.
Men’s college basketball
Bronny James returned to full-contact basketball practice on Thursday for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest in July, paving the way for the son of Lakers superstar LeBron James to make his college debut with USC when the Trojans host Long Beach State on Sunday.
Soccer
Defending champion Argentina opens next year’s Copa América on June 20 in Atlanta against the winner of a Canada-Trinidad and Tobago playoff, and the U.S. starts vs. Bolivia three days later at Arlington, Texas.
The 12th-ranked U.S. opens against the lowestranked South American nation in No. 85 Bolivia, then plays No. 41 Panama at Atlanta on June 27 and finishes Group C against 11th-ranked Uruguay at Kansas City, Mo., on July 1, according to the draw Thursday night.
West Ham came back to secure a 2-1 win at Tottenham in the Premier League and extend Spurs’ winless run to five games . ... Everton climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over Newcastle.
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