Despite sitting in third place behind Americans Collin Morikawa and Billy Horschel in the Race to Dubai standings, world No. 1 Jon Rahm will skip the European Tour finale and give up a chance to win the season-long points title for the second time in three years.
Rahm said in a statement that he will not play in this week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai so he can spend time with his family.
“After lengthy discussions with my team, I have come to the difficult decision not to travel to Dubai next week,” Rahm said in the statement. “The demands of a long season with many ups and downs has taken a lot out of me. I feel I need to take time to recharge my batteries while spending quality time with my family.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish DP World and the European Tour all the best for the season-ending event, which is always such a special tournament. I would also like to reiterate my congratulations to both for the announcement of the DP World Tour earlier this week, and I look forward very much to competing on the DP World Tour next year."
Slugger White, who recently retired after 40 years as a PGA Tour rules official, has joined the Greg Norman-run LIV Golf Investments group as vice president of rules and competition management.
Additionally, the group announced Will Staeger as chief media officer and Jane MacNeille as vice president of communications. They join chief commercial officer Sean Bratches and chief events officer Ron Cross in the new organization.
Staeger has worked in the sports and entertainment industry for more than 25 years for ESPN, Endeavor, World Wrestling Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions.
MacNeille has spent the past seven years as head of communications for the Greg Norman Company.
LIV Golf Investments is expected to announce a new golf league in the near future, having already made a commitment of $200 million to a 10-tournament deal with the Asian Tour.
Hannah Green, the Women’s PGA Championship winner from 2019, will headline the competition for the Karrie Webb Cup at the inaugural Australian WPGA Championship in January.
The competition among 24 of Australia’s best women golfers will be staged alongside the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane.
“I’m honored that my name can feature on the Australian WPGA Championship trophy but I am even more excited by Australia’s leading female players having another marquee event to play in,” said Webb, winner of 56 professional tournaments in her World Golf Hall of Fame career.
Min Woo Lee, who won the 2021 Scottish Open, and Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, will take part in the Australian PGA event, Jan. 13-16, 2022.
TAP-INS
The European Tour announced the establishment of John Jacobs Bursary Award, named for the tour’s founder, which will support the top five graduates of the developmental Challenge Tour (READ MORE). … The Pelican Women’s Championship and the LPGA Tour announced a multi-year extension of the deal for the tournament through 2025, increasing the purse to $2 million (READ MORE). … World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez has joined the board of directors for NextLinks, an indoor golf arena company.
Staff and Wire Reports