Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates making a putt for birdie on the 18th inexperienced in the course of the remaining spherical of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 20, 2021 in San Diego, California.
Sean M. Haffey | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
Golf celebrity Jon Rahm is gearing up to go away the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing individuals conversant in the matter.
Rahm, who gained the Masters in April and is ranked no. 3 in the world, could announce the deal as quickly as this week, the Journal added. The outlet cautioned that talks could nonetheless disintegrate.
Such a transfer would be the most recent blockbuster improvement within the long and tumultuous saga of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The two leagues face a Dec. 31 deadline to determine the destiny of their proposed mixture.
The golf world is rife with hypothesis {that a} cope with Rahm could be a part of a technique by LIV to stress the PGA Tour into log out on the merger. LIV Golf replied to CNBC’s request for remark with an automatic message.
LIV has poached PGA gamers previously for offers value hundreds of millions of dollars, resembling Phil Mickelson. This has been a sticking level for different golfers within the sport. Rory McIlroy, the world’s no. 2 participant, said in July that he would retire if LIV Golf was “the final place to play golf on earth.”
The PGA Tour didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark, nor did representatives for Rahm.