Jon Rahm cracks up golf reporter with response to FAQ

Jon Rahm claimed he was the prime example of 'peak male athleticism' when he was asked by a reporter at LIV Riyadh if golf was a sport. 

The question has been asked frequently over the years and more often than not delivers a dim response from golfers.

Rahm cracked a joke about the topic but then issued the best and perhaps most insightful response yet as he sat alongside his new LIV recruit Tom McKibbin. 

The reporter asked: "What would you tell people?"

McKibbin said: "I don't know. Maybe it isn't a sport."

The 22-year-old then explained that as a golfer he believed he simply trains as hard other athletes to try and get one per cent better every day. 

Then Rahm chimed in: "I mean, I think he touched a lot of points there, but it's also a level of skill and athleticism you need to have to be able to move your body in a certain way to hit a golf ball for 300 yards accurately. 

"I think there's a lot of moving parts that go into the game of golf. 

"You need to have some -- you need to have either a very good understanding of your body, a very good understanding what your hands are doing at all times, hand-eye coordination is very needed because unlike other sports the ball is not moving, so it's all up to what you're doing. 

"What you're doing is completely deterministic of what the ball is going to do."

Rahm said that even though golfers aren't running or jumping there's certain 'turns, rotations, sequences and hand movements that you need to be very precise at to be able to accomplish what we're accomplishing.'

He added: "Maybe we're not doing the same physical effort in a sport, but mentally I would put it up there with a lot of them, and maybe the smaller physical -- like more detailed physical skills, as well. There's a lot that goes into it."

Watch the full exchange here:

"I thought he would be a prize player"

Tom McKibbin was officially unveiled as a LIV player last week. 

It had been rumoured since early January that he had been approached about joining the breakaway tour. 

Rory McIlroy confirmed McKibbin talked at length about the offer he was given and he was advised by his mentor not to join. 

McIlroy said he thought his Holywood clubmate wasn't getting a good deal and was giving up so much. 

He was alluding to the fact he had only just secured his first PGA Tour card.

It is understood that McKibbin has signed a two-year contract worth $5m. 

He'll also have the opportunity to play for $25m purses over 28 events. 

McKibbin said earlier in the week that jeopardising his chances of playing in major championships and this year's Ryder Cup was not a sufficient reason to decide against joining LIV Golf. 

He told reporters that Legion XIII was the 'only team' that he spoke to. 

"I thought he would be a prize player," Rahm said. 

McKibbin claimed he was only ever going to join Rahm's side. 

"I'm very, very happy I'm here," he said. "So thanks Jon."

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