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<\/p>\nJon Rahm said he has changed his mind over the last two years <\/p>\n
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Jon Rahm insisted he has not joined LIV Golf \u201cfor the money\u201d after switching to the Saudi-backed series from the PGA Tour in a controversial deal reportedly worth up to \u00a3450m.<\/p>\n
The Masters champion and World No 3 was a former critic of LIV Golf and previously said in 2022 that he did not like the LIV format and respected golf\u2019s history too much to be influenced by financial offers.<\/p>\n
Rahm previously pledged his allegiance to the PGA Tour and said the \u201conly appeal\u201d of LIV Golf, which is played as a team-based competition over 54 holes, was money.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard said: \u201cWould my lifestyle change if I got $400m? It would not change one bit. Truth be told, I could retire now with what I have made and live a very happy life and not play golf again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rahm\u2019s switch to LIV Golf puts his future in the Ryder Cup at risk as, under current rules, the Spaniard will need to remain a member of the DP World Tour to be eligible.<\/p>\n
"Things have changed a lot in the game of golf over the past two years and I\u2019ve seen the growth of LIV Golf and the innovation,\u201d Rahm told Fox News.<\/p>\n
"That\u2019s why I\u2019m here today. This decision was made for many reasons and what I thought was best for me. Don\u2019t get me wrong, it\u2019s a great deal.<\/p>\n
"I\u2019ve been very happy but there is a lot of things that LIV Golf has to offer that were very enticing. It was a great offer. The money is great, obviously it\u2019s wonderful.<\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
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Rory McIlroy said he was \u2018disappointed\u2019 after Rahm\u2019s move to LIV Golf was confirmed <\/p>\n
"I\u2019m no stranger to hearing some negative things on social media or in media. It\u2019s part of what it is, we\u2019re public figures but you just learn to deal with it right? This certainly won\u2019t define who I am or change who I am."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy said Europe must make changes to its Ryder Cup qualification rules after Rahm\u2019s controversial move to LIV Golf was confirmed.<\/p>\n
Rahm has played in Europe\u2019s last three Ryder Cup teams and was a key part in the stunning victory over the USA in Rome earlier this year after going unbeaten in his four matches.<\/p>\n
Several European Ryder Cup greats, such Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, were ruled out of Ryder Cup contention after LIV Golf was established in 2022.<\/p>\n
Stenson, the former Open champion, even had the captaincy taken away after joining LIV Golf and the Swede was replaced by Luke Donald.<\/p>\n
But McIlroy, who was once a critic of LIV Golf before the breakaway series signed a deal with the PGA Tour, insisted that Rahm should be allowed to play for Europe when they look to defend the Ryder Cup in the USA in 2025.<\/p>\n
"Jon [Rahm] 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," McIlroy told Sky Sports News<\/em>. "There\u2019s absolutely no question about that – I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.<\/p>\n "I\u2019m going to miss competing against him week in, week out. He has got so much talent, he\u2019s so tenacious and he\u2019s a great team-mate in the Ryder Cup. The thing that I\u2019ve realised is that you can\u2019t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.<\/p>\n "Is it disappointing to me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6th, when the framework agreement was announced, and I think because of that it made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys.<\/p>\n "They let the first guys really take the heat and then this framework agreement legitimised basically what LIV was trying to do, then I think it\u2019s made it easier now if that\u2019s really what you want to do.<\/p>\n "My opinion now is and there\u2019s only one great team event in golf and that\u2019s the Ryder Cup and that\u2019s never going to change. But if the public wants some more team competition, then you know you have to cater for what the public demands."<\/p>\n