Jon Rahm catches stray from Rory McIlroy over 'golden era' comment
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy appear to disagree about the current state of men's professional golf.
Rory McIlroy appeared to take a dim view of Jon Rahm's comments about the current state of men's professional golf.
Rahm told reporters before the Hero Dubai Desert Classic he believed we are living in 'a golden era' with endless possibilities.
The 2023 Masters champion said the men's game can reach a 'higher level' after more than three years of turmoil.
Rahm joined LIV Golf for a reported £450m ($566.4) in December 2023, six months after the PGA Tour announced a peace agreement with LIV's financiers.
Despite conceding that he believed there would be more progress to unite the game at this juncture, Rahm said: "[We have] a big tour in Europe and a worldwide and a massive and massive tour [in] the PGA Tour.
"And you have another big product with LIV and now you're even adding the TGL. When it comes to golf, the possibilities are there right now."
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McIlroy accused his Ryder Cup teammate of wearing 'rose-tinted glasses'.
He added: "I think what I would say is with everything that's happened in the game over the past two or three years, I think what I maybe could envision is that the domination of the American side of things might come back a little bit in terms of, not that the game has never been global, but you know, sort of trying to build on the opportunities globally.
"So I think where we are, I think we are in a good position to try to grow that part of it.
"There's amazing players, right? There's amazing players that play in all different tours and parts of the world and everything, which is great.
"But at the same time, it's become too fractured and too disjointed.
"I would share his optimism if the game wasn't as disjointed and as fractured as it was.
"You know, maybe we'll get to that point sometime in the near future, and if we do, then I would say, I would share that optimism."
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Reporter: "As we start 2025, what is your assessment on where professional golf is?"
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) January 14, 2025
Jon Rahm's 90-second response.... pic.twitter.com/69ZbiKxPXT
McIlroy also told reporters that he advised Tom McKibbin not to join LIV Golf.
McKibbin is currently deciding whether or not to join Rahm's Legion XIII quartet.
The 22-year-old is understood to have been offered a two-year contract worth $5m.
McIlroy said he had lengthy discussions with McKibbin throughout December.
Read more about that here.
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