Jon Rahm’s decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf tested his relationships with those on the opposite side of the divide, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm faced a potential rift in their friendship after the latter chose to join LIV Golf. And McIlroy’s reaction to this development starkly differed from that of another close pal, Tiger Woods.
Rahm shocked the golf world by announcing his departure from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in December 2023. This was despite the Spaniard previously voicing strong support for the PGA and suggesting he would never turn his back on the organisation.
Both McIlroy and Woods have been vocal critics of those joining LIV since its inception in 2021. However, McIlroy’s stance appeared to mellow over time – not that the same could be said for Woods.
Almost three years after LIV came into the picture, McIlroy noted discussions about a possible merger between LIV and the PGA – which is still yet to materialise – “legitimized” the breakaway league. And he suggested this made it easier for Rahm to switch sides without facing the same backlash as earlier defectors.
“I think Jon, he’s smart, and I think he sees things coming together [between LIV Golf and the PGA] at some point,” he said on The Overlap (via the Irish Star) last year. “So it’s like ‘I take a lot of up-front money’ – which is his prerogative, and he can absolutely do that – ‘and if things come together, I’ll maybe play LIV for a year, come back, play on the Tour, maybe some team golf on the fringes.’
“So it’s a smart business move, it’s opportunistic. I think he sees things will come back together. And he’s in a lucky position; he’s exempt for all the majors, there’s not one person who wouldn’t want him on a Ryder Cup team because of how good he is. So he was in a great position where there wasn’t a ton of risk involved – but I’ve no problem with Jon going.”
McIlroy expressed understanding for Rahm’s controversial switch, which was said to be worth a staggering £386million. He sympathised with his fellow Ryder Cup winner’s intentions to secure his family’s future and admitted to reassessing his former judgments.
“I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start,” McIlroy continued in conversation with Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright. “I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’ position.
“We all turn professional to making a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realised over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”
However, Woods came across less forgiving after Rahm revealed the American gave him the cold shoulder. This revelation came shortly after the news broke about Rahm’s departure from the traditional golf circuit, highlighting Woods’ disapproval.
In February 2024, when questioned about whether he’d been in contact with the 15-time major champion, Rahm said: “Tiger? No, not really. I mean, Tiger, I texted him and the people that try to reach out, you know, the process, when I signed and I just let him know, ‘Hey, you know, this is a personal decision. I have nothing against anybody.'”
Rahm’s departure also appeared to contribute to the inaugural season of Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) being delayed by a year. He was expected to play a prominent role in the simulator-based tournament, which was co-founded by Woods and McIlroy, potentially adding insult to injury for the legendary pair.
One year later, and circumstances may have shifted. But it was telling that while McIlroy seemed ready to forgive at the time, Woods did not appear to feel the same way.
The golf icon – who will miss the upcoming Masters due to injury – has recently kept a lower profile regarding the LIV series. Fans are hopeful for a resolution between the Saudi-backed series and the PGA, yet postponements and setbacks have left many disheartened.
Initially a fervent supporter of golf’s traditional structure during the early days of the sport’s internal conflict, Woods seems to have receded from the forefront of the debate. On the other hand, McIlroy remains hopeful of a resolution between the two parties as he hopes to again join forces with Rahm at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
