Jon Rahm: "Was I upset? No, but I just wished they told the truth"
Jon Rahm has criticised the media for suggesting he was unhappy during his maiden season with LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm has criticised 'some parts of the media' for making it sound like he had buyer's remorse after joining LIV Golf.
Rahm's decision to join the breakaway tour for a reported £450m ($566.4m) in December 2023 was a seismic moment in the golf wars.
His performances and behaviour on and off the course were immediately placed under more scrutiny than ever before.
Rahm turned in strong performances during the early part of his LIV career.
But an off-colour performance at The Masters (T45) and a missed cut at the PGA Championship, along with a few comments and notable exchanges on the course led some to suggest he wasn't entirely happy.
For example, Rahm admitted before mounting his Masters defence that he thought his switch to LIV was going to speed up a peace agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Was he hoping to cash in and then have the best of both worlds?
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Rahm also called on LIV to drop their 54-hole format and switch to playing the traditional 72.
Elsewhere, Rahm admitted he was 'emotional' at missing out on playing the WM Phoenix Open, the Farmers Insurance Open and American Express.
The WM Phoenix Open is staged just a few miles from Rahm's home and the Spaniard said he found it difficult driving past TPC Scottsdale knowing he wasn't in the field.
Rahm captured his first PGA Tour win at Torrey Pines and also landed his first major title there too.
Elsewhere, hot mics picked up Rahm ranting and raving about the noise of LIV's drones during their Nashville event.
"Every tournament, it's f---ing incredible," Rahm yelled. "Right on my back swing. These f---ing drones every time."
In August, GolfDigest published a report attributing a quote to a 'tour insider' claiming Rahm would give back his LIV money in a heartbeat.
Jon Rahm rarely hits draws.
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) January 14, 2025
But he can.
Here he is sending a high draw down the 18th hole at Emirates GC this morning. pic.twitter.com/kkBRzC0OJQ
Tyrrell Hatton, recently came to the defence of his Ryder Cup teammate and suggested nothing could be further from the truth.
Rahm did concede that 2024 was stressful on the eve of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
And if he wasn't his usual self, that was only because he was so worried about his wife Kelley and 'a difficult third pregnancy'.
"I don't know why some parts of the media felt like they needed to make it sound like I was unhappy," Rahm told BBC Sport.
"I was comfortable with my decision and had an incredible year in LIV and had a lot of fun and it was enjoyable.
"If at any time I felt unhappy it was because I didn't enjoy some of the press conferences I had to do at some events.
"Maybe I hadn't played my best golf up until June, July.
"But the number one reason was my wife had an incredibly difficult pregnancy."
"My plan is to be on that team at Bethpage."
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) January 14, 2025
Jon Rahm addressed his 2025 Ryder Cup status. pic.twitter.com/wpSrysXBER
Rahm continued: "It was weighing on me and things got a lot better in July.
"You can actually see a difference in me and in my golf game right from when we got better news.
"Starting the year it was a challenge. My wife was in bed rest, there was danger potentially for her and the baby.
"It was never a comfortable situation to be in.
"So when I was seeing those reports, was I upset? No, but I just wished they told the truth."
Rahm will play the first two rounds here at Emirates Golf Club alongside Robert MacIntyre and Adam Scott.
Rory McIlroy is the tournament favourite.
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