Shane Lowry reveals NSFW response to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton's LIV moves
Shane Lowry has revealed how his European teammates reacted when Rahm and Hatton announced they were joining the lucrative LIV Golf league.
Shane Lowry has shed light on how the European Ryder Cup group chat reacted to the news that Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton would be signing with LIV Golf.
Rahm and Hatton had been instrumental in Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup victory at Marco Simone Country Club in Rome, with the pair collectively accumulating six and a half points from a possible eight.
The duo were teamed up on two occasions, beating Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in the opening fourball match on Friday before also besting one of America's strongest pairs of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in the Saturday morning foursomes.
Despite their success at the Ryder Cup, both players were lured to LIV with lucrative deals at the start of the 2024 season.
Rahm reportedly joined the Saudi-backed league for close to $600m, while Hatton had to settle for a slightly more modest fee of £60m.
Hatton's decision to join LIV was a last-minute one, with the Englishman only putting pen to paper on the eve of LIV's season opener in Mexico.
The pair now both represent Legion XIII, which is captained by Rahm, with the other two spots on the roster comprising young American amateur Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent, who earned his spot on the team through LIV's promotional event.
Having joined the breakaway league, Rahm and Hatton have jeopardised their Ryder Cup futures, with membership on the DP World Tour currently a requirement for eligibility for Luke Donald's team when they travel to Bethpage Black in New York next year.
Speaking to the ForePlay podcast, Lowry revealed that Hatton and Rahm informed their Ryder Cup teammates of their move prior to the official announcement.
The Irishman then revealed how the rest of the team reacted on the group chat.
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While Lowry was clearly disappointed with Rahm and Hatton's departures, his comments do suggest a softening towards LIV departures, which has been reflected in Rory McILroy's comments in recent weeks.
Speaking to the media recently, McIlroy, one of the LIV's biggest critics in the past, has U-turned on his previous position and is keen for LIV golfers to be given an easy route back to the PGA Tour if the two Tours were to merge.
In recent weeks, the traditional 'you vs us' storyline has simmered, with most players seemingly wanting an amicable solution that can reunite the game of golf for the better.
Despite that, there are still a number of golfers, including Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, who believe if a route back to the PGA Tour is offered, it must come with some sort of caveat or consequence.
With the Saudi Public Investment Fund's proposed merger with the PGA Tour still looming in the distance, a LIV and PGA Tour reunion could be a reality sooner rather than later.
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Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
