Jon Rahm reveals media ban after LIV Golf move: "I'm under strict instruction"
The Spanish World No.3 has revealed he is under 'strict instruction' not to give any more media interviews until his LIV Golf debut.
Golf fans were speculating if Jon Rahm was already being silenced by his new employers after the Spaniard revealed he wouldn't be doing press conferences until next February.
Rahm shocked the sporting world by joining the rival LIV Golf League on 8 December after weeks of intense speculation.
The reigning Masters champion is said to have penned a deal worth £450m.
A jubilant Greg Norman has claimed he expects more apples to fall from the PGA Tour tree in the coming weeks and months.
Whilst some have been supportive of Rahm's choice to finally take the money after the North American circuit entered in negotiations with LIV's Saudi financiers, there are others who have been displeased at the 30-year-old's major U-turn.
Rahm has previously been critical of the breakaway tour's format and laughed at speculation linking him with a move.
"It's not a proper golf tournament," he previously said.
Recent reports have suggested LIV will have conversations about moving to playing 72 hole events instead of 54.
The news agency Reuters quoted Rahm on 13 December stating he is now under 'strict instructions' not to do public events.
Rahm also told reporters the move was also part self-imposed owing to 'the change I have given the golf world in the last week'.
He told the agency:
Reacting to the news, one X user wrote: "A sad byproduct of this whichever 'side' you're on or whatever your thoughts on how the future should look: One of the most thoughtful, intelligent, eloquent, insightful, open and honest voices in golf is now being gagged by the Saudis."
Another added: "Well, there seems to be a lot of freedom that comes with playing for LIV."
RELATED: Jon Rahm suspended by PGA Tour as Tony Finau ends LIV Golf talk
This person twisted the knife: "Hostage type stuff here. Very, very cool."
Rahm's LIV debut will take place next February when the tour heads to Mayakoba, Mexico.
The two-time major champion will have his own LIV team. The roster has not yet been announced.
There were reports his good pal Tony Finau would be joining him, but the American recently wrote a lengthy post on his Instagram page stating how he was looking forward to the new season.
He ended the post by writing: #imnotleaving.
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