Masters champion Jon Rahm accepted that his move to LIV Golf will probably have an impact on his standing in the game but said he had hoped his decision would help to reunite the game's top players.
The Spaniard moved to the rebel circuit last December while the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabian backers of LIV Golf were apparently working towards finalising a definitive partnership agreement.
Speaking at Augusta National ahead of his Masters title defence, world No 3 Rahm said part of his motivation to join LIV Golf was that it would play a role in bringing players together.
-
Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d'Or 2023. EPA -
Soccer Football - 2023 Ballon d'Or - Chatelet Theatre, Paris, France - October 30, 2023 FC Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati after winning the women's Ballon d'Or REUTERS / Stephanie Lecocq -
Ballon d'Or 2023 winner Argentine international Lionel Messi (L) is joined on stage by his three sons and his Argentine teammates goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, winner of the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, Lautaro Martinez (2R) and Julian Alvarez (R) during the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, 30 October 2023. EPA / MOHAMMED BADRA -
Ferran Soriano CEO of Manchester City makes a speech after the team received the Men's Club of the Year award during the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, 30 October 2023. EPA / MOHAMMED BADRA -
TOPSHOT - (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on October 30, 2023 shows Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) holding his 8th Ballon d'Or award and FC Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati (R) holding her Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) -
TOPSHOT - Manchester City Spanish CEO Ferran Soriano (2ndR) walks on stage with the trophy as Manchester City receives the Men's Best Club of the Year trophy, next to Manchester City's Portuguese defender Ruben Dias (L), Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri, Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson Santana de Moraes and Ivorian former football player and Manchester City's Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) -
Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) poses with his trophy and his children (bottom), next to Aston Villa's Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (Top 2L), Inter Milan's Argentine forward Lautaro Martinez (2R) and Manchester City's Argentine forward Julian Alvarez (R) during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) -
(COMBO) This combination of file photographs created on October 30, 2023, shows Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacting as he receives the Ballon d'Or football award (from bottom, R to L) for the year 2009 in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, on December 6, 2009; for the year 2010 in Zurich, on January 10, 2011; for the year 2011 in Zurich on January 9, 2012; for the year 2012 in Zurich on January 7, 2013; for the year 2015 in Zurich on January 11, 2016; for the year 2019 in Paris on December 2, 2019; for the year 2021 in Paris on November 29, 2021; for the year 2023 in Paris on October 30, 2023. Lionel Messi won the men's Ballon d'Or award for a record-extending eight time at a ceremony in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by AFP) -
Soccer Football - 2023 Ballon d'Or - Chatelet Theatre, Paris, France - October 30, 2023 Inter Miami's Lionel Messi with the men's Ballon d'Or REUTERS / Stephanie Lecocq -
Soccer Football - 2023 Ballon d'Or - Chatelet Theatre, Paris, France - October 30, 2023 FC Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati after winning the women's Ballon d'Or REUTERS / Stephanie Lecocq
"I understood my position, yes. And I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step towards some kind of agreement, yes. Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement," said Rahm.
"But unfortunately it's not up to me. But I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process. But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself."
Rahm accepted a reported $300 million to join LIV Golf eight months after his Masters triumph. The 29-year-old Spaniard acknowledged that decision will be likely to affect his legacy.
"Well, luckily it's still quite early in my career to be thinking about legacy. So it's not really something I have in mind constantly," said Rahm.
"I mean, will it change? Yeah. It's a bit of a detour on my path. But change can be better."
Rahm is one of 13 LIV players in the field this week, including seven who previously have won a green jacket. Augusta National also extended an invitation to Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who did not have the world ranking necessary to get in but won the Australian Open in December.
It is unclear whether a merger of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's PIF is any closer. They announced their "framework agreement" last year.
