Report: PGA Tour players want Jon Rahm to give back LIV Golf money
Several high-profile golfers on the PGA Tour want Jon Rahm to hand back his LIV Golf money before a deal can be agreed with the Saudi PIF, per a report.
Several high-profile PGA Tour golfers want players like Jon Rahm to hand back their LIV cash before a deal can be agreed with the Saudi PIF, according to a report.
Per Bloomberg, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to finalising a deal is how to reintegrate the golfers who have bolted to the breakaway league over the last two years.
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF, which bankrolls LIV, entered into a shock 'framework agreement' last June but so far no deal has come to pass.
Officials from the Tour and LIV met last week in New York.
Rory McIlroy declared he had renewed hope an agreement would be made in the future despite not being involved in the meeting.
Jordan Spieth has since urged patience.
Bloomberg reported that the 'financials' of the deal edged closer during the summit in the Big Apple.
But a huge stumbling block is how to reintegrate LIV players.
Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler have previously stated there should be a caveat for returning LIV golfers.
One unlikely option is for LIV players to simply hand back the cash they have received.
Other ideas put forward included LIV players donating money to charity or paying fines before they are allowed to compete on the PGA Tour again.
Rahm is said to have been paid £450m ($566.4m) for signing a five-year deal with LIV last December.
He was crowned LIV's individual champion last Sunday and has won $34.4m on the course this season.
A large chunk of that came with an $18m bonus for winning LIV's order of merit.
Bloomberg's report stated:
"A deal isn't a certainty, and talks may still fail, the people said."A particular sticking point is Jon Rahm's reported $300 million LIV contract, struck late last year, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private information."Some PGA Tour players want Rahm — and others — to hand back money they've made from LIV, the people said."Other options include paying fines to participate in events, giving to charity, or agreeing to forfeit any future career winnings on the PGA Tour, the people said."However, Rahm and other LIV Golf players have refused to agree any terms that would penalize them for taking a risk and leaving the PGA Tour, the people said."
Sports Illustrated reported that PIF officials offered to eliminate all fines as well as tweak their schedule so as to not conflict with Tour events in the future.
Player | LIV Golf fee |
Phil Mickelson | $200m |
Dustin Johnson | $125m |
Brooks Koepka | $100m |
Cameron Smith | $100m |
Bryson DeChambeau | $100-125m |
Jon Rahm | $566.6m |
Sergio Garcia | $30-40m |
Patrick Reed | $50m |
Bubba Watson | $50m |
Henrik Stenson | $40m |
Ian Poulter | $20-30m |
Lee Westwood | $20-30m |
Louis Oosthuizen | $50m |
Paul Casey | $20-30m |
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