When Jon Rahm showed up on television and computer screens on Dec. 7 wearing a black jacket with “LIV Golf” written on the front, the moment may have been the most impactful in the organization’s short lifespan.
At a time when LIV Golf’s most powerful person – Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who oversees Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – was in negotiations with PGA Tour officials about a potential working agreement with the tour, the Rahm bombshell was another reminder that the new league is as bullish as ever on its future as it enters its third season.
LIV Golf landed a body blow, taking the reigning Masters champion, a 29-year-old Spaniard who won four PGA Tour events last year and had consistently expressed his loyalty to the U.S.-based tour.
How much Rahm’s decision impacts the ongoing negotiations remains to be seen, but LIV Golf is intent on barreling into its new season with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
If LIV Golf was a novelty in its first season, it began to solidify itself as an alternative to the PGA Tour last year. Its television ratings and commercial success may still be underwhelming, but LIV Golf is pushing forward, not retreating.
It remains committed to its team-first concept and trumpeted its version of baseball’s hot stove league late last year with a handful of roster changes among the teams.
With domestic events this year in Dallas, Houston and Nashville, as well as a new stop overseas in Hong Kong, LIV is tapping new markets.
There are still details to be addressed. The first event of the year will be played February 2-4 at Mayakoba in Mexico, but the full schedule has not been finalized, at least not publicly. The second event will be played February 8-10 in Las Vegas, allowing LIV to have a piece of the desert stage during Super Bowl week there.
As for Rahm, he is expected to captain a 13th team, which would mean the addition of at least three new players to LIV Golf.
LIV produced a breakout star within its ranks last year when Talor Gooch won three times and captured the season-long individual championship. This year, he will be part of Smash GC with captain Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell, considered one of the strongest teams in the league.
Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers won the team title in Miami last fall and figure to be strong again, as does Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces team.
Because of its continuing battle to qualify for Official World Golf Ranking points, LIV players again will have limited participation in major championships, but its success in the biggest events last year was a point of honor for the league. Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finished in the top four at the Masters, and Koepka won the PGA Championship.
Cam Smith won two LIV titles last year and remained among the game’s elites, but other big names have struggled to break through. Mickelson had just one top 10 finish in LIV events last year, and neither Reed nor Sergio García has notched an individual win in two LIV seasons.
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