Jon Rahm has revealed that Tiger Woods wasn’t as accepting of his $500million move to LIV Golf than his friend and business partner Rory McIlroy.
The Spaniard, 29, sent shockwaves through the golfing world when he inked his eye-watering, multi-million-dollar deal to abandon the PGA Tour and join Greg Norman’s rebel circuit in December.
LIV’s capture of the reigning Masters winner marked a huge coup for the breakaway but McIlroy, one of the PGA Tour’s most outspoken defender, surprisingly softened his stance both publicly and privately following his Ryder Cup teammate’s move.
The Northern Irishman admitted he had been ‘too judgmental’ of those who had defected.
However, the same seemingly can’t be said for Woods as Rahm opened up on the two PGA Tour star’s very different reactions.
Jon Rahm (L) revealed that Tiger Woos (R) ghosted him after his $500m LIV Golf move
Rory McIlroy (R) surprisingly softened his stance publicly and privately after Rahm’s move
‘Rory has been supportive publicly of my decision and he was privately as well,’ Rahm told ESPN’s Marty Smith.
‘Tiger? No, not really,’ Rahm added when Smith asked if he had heard from both McIlroy and Woods.
‘I mean, Tiger, I texted him and the people that try to reach out, you know, the process, when I signed and I just let him know, “Hey, you know, this is a personal decision.”’
The two-time major winner didn’t elaborate further on his attempted conversation with the golf legend.
Woods himself has been asked about Rahm’s defection at his limited appearances since the blockbuster move but remained fairly tight-lipped.
‘Well, there’s been a lot of talk over the years of certain players going, and it was speculation until it happened because there’s been rumors of names going and not going, and whether they materialized or not,’ Woods said when asked at the PNC Championship. ‘So we assumed it was just speculation till it happened.’
Woods joined the PGA Tour’s policy board as its sixth ‘player director’ after its stars were left furious over being kept in the dark over the June 6 agreement made by commissioner Jay Monahan with LIV’s financier, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The Spaniard also revealed that he hasn’t spoken to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan
While Woods and co are continuing negotiations with LIV and PIF over the ‘merger’, Rahm also revealed that he’s not spoken to Monahan since his defection, despite having expressed his desire to continue playing PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.
‘I think he’s [too] busy enough to be talking to me,’ Rahm said.
‘I want to make one thing clear: if allowed, I will still support the PGA Tour and DP World Tour,’ Rahm added.
‘I’m not giving up and there’s still some events I would love to absolutely play. No doubt about it, if my schedule allows. I would go and play.’
