Does Patrick Cantlay agree with Jon Rahm's 'betrayal' remark? Let him explain

Patrick Cantlay says Jon Rahm's 'betrayal' comment about the PGA Tour striking a deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers was 'totally understandable'.

Ben Smith

14 Jun 2023

Does Patrick Cantlay agree with Jon Rahm's 'betrayal' remark? Let him explain — Does Patrick Cantlay agree with Jon Rahm's 'betrayal' remark? Let him…

Patrick Cantlay says Jon Rahm's 'betrayal' remark was 'totally understandable'.

Cantlay, 31, is one of 156 golfers hoping to win the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club this week.

The major has once again been overshadowed by off-course drama after the jaw-dropping news that the PGA Tour agreed to partner with LIV Golf's Saudi backers.

Rahm questioned the management of the PGA Tour when he spoke at his news conference on 13 June.

"The general feeling is that a lot of people feel a bit of betrayal from management," Rahm blasted.

Cantlay, the current World No. 4 who is yet to win a major championship, agreed the Spaniard's comments were 'totally understandable'.

He said:

"I think anytime that you're left in the dark on a decision that potentially affects you massively, that could easily make you upset."

As for Cantlay, he said his initial response was confusion and not anger. Much like Cameron Smith, who thought it was a joke.

Under fire PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan has now stepped away from his day-to-day duties owing to a 'medical issue'.

Cantlay continued:

"[I was confused] about what was really going on. [Since I got] a lot of the information from the media and having just conflicted opinions and stories, I'm not really sure exactly what [was] going on.

"I actually looked for golf articles last week, which is very abnormal. Normally, they find me."

Watch Rahm's reaction here, along with Brooks Koepka:

Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka both share their feelings after last week's news of the PGA Tour-LIV-DP World Tour merger pic.twitter.com/89oqgthARG
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 14, 2023

Despite Rahm's apparent grumpiness at being left in 'limbo', he said he knows he's in a state of 'high privilege in this world'.

He explained:

"I think a little bit in my case is perspective. No matter what happens, whether I agree with it or not, thanks to the PGA Tour, they give me a platform to play golf at the highest level, and after taking advantage of that possibility, I'm in a situation where my family and my kids don't have to struggle financially ever, and I don't know how many generations I can help if I do it properly.

"I'm in a very high state of privilege in this world. I can do what I want. I can do what I love for a living. I have a blast every single day even though I get mad on the golf course every once in a while."

Rahm continued:

"When I start with that point of view, no matter what happens, I can only be thankful to what's going on. If things change, things change. I'm just -- I'll have to adapt to the situation and will have to make some decisions on what's going on forward, and I'll make some decisions.

"At the end of the day I'm still very privileged, whether the PGA Tour [and] LIV Golf align or not or who plays and who likes who. It doesn't really matter."

Elsewhere, Shane Lowry has revealed he was the man to step in during a tense players' meeting at the Canadian Open in the immediate aftermath of the bombshell news.

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