PGA Tour boss told 'wrong' language led to Jon Rahm LIV Golf deal
English tour pro Eddie Pepperell says Jay Monahan's language may have contributed to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton joining the LIV Golf League.
English tour pro Eddie Pepperell has claimed the 'language' used by PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan may have led to Jon Rahm joining LIV Golf.
Rahm joined the breakaway league for an enormous fee in December 2023, a few months on from the shock framework agreement announcement between the PGA Tour and LIV's financiers.
That announcement was vague at best but we were led to believe the agreement would end the divide at the top of the men's game.
But Pepperell reckons the framework agreement was nothing more than just a means to stop the litigation between the parties.
"I was thinking about this earlier, I just think the language that was used in hindsight by Jay Monahan was wrong," Pepperell told The Chipping Forecast.
"To call it a framework agreement I think suggested something that really wasn't there.
"I don't think it was much of an agreement at all. Really all that was agreed was to stop suing one another.
"Out of that language came Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, players like that looking and thinking 'oh, something’s in the pipeline'.
"I wonder if they regret using the language they used. It's going to be interesting to see."
Pepperell's comments come as the aforementioned Monahan has cast doubt on whether lightning will strike between the Tour and the Saudi PIF afterall.
The recently released PGA Tour schedule for 2025 means that nothing will be announced until at least 2026, Monahan said.
Elsewhere, there have been reports that Rahm has regretted his big-money move.
A 'tour insider' was quoted in a Golf Digest report suggesting Rahm 'miscalculated' his move and would give back his LIV money in a heartbeat.
Rahm refuted the claim.
As did LIV commissioner Greg Norman, who said nothing could be further from the truth.
There are only two LIV Golf events left of the 2024 campaign.
Some players' contracts will expire and it remains to be seen whether LIV will try and go after some more big names.
Pepperell added: "The PGA Tour have combated that with some of their own initiatives to make their own players wealthier.
"You would think that's going to stop them going across by and large. Its going to be interesting to see if they sign any so-called big players but, of course, there might be some players like Adrian Meronk, that type of stature who might go across.
"Its difficult to know until there's this agreement and all these ongoing discussions.
"You listen Jay Monahan, read between the lines, read next year's schedule and look at what he's saying.
"To me it doesn't suggest there's really anything that's been fully agreed."
