Jon Rahm shocked the golf world when he announced his move to LIV Golf in December. The PGA Tour responded by suspending Rahm from its events, effectively ruling him out of defending his Sentry Tournament of Champions title in January. However, there is still a slim chance that Rahm could tee it up at Kapalua Plantation Course.
It could happen if the PGA Tour and LIV Golf can reach a commercial agreement before the end of this year, as per the merger deadline. The two parties have been in negotiations since June but have not reached any definitive agreement so far! But the timely completion of the framework is not the only deciding factor, as Rahm’s fate will heavily rely on Tiger Woods & Co.
As a result of a surprising merger announcement, the players demanded more involvement and control in the decision-making process. In response, Monahan added Woods as a sixth-player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board. The Tour’s new board includes six player directors, five independent directors, and the PGA of America director.
If the merger framework includes a clause that allows LIV Golf players to participate in PGA Tour events, then Rahm could be eligible to play in the PGA Tour events. He would then be able to return to Kapalua and defend his Sentry title. However, this would also depend on the goodwill and approval of the player directors, and other members of the Player Advisory Council.
The player directors, along with their special advisor Colin Neville, will have full access and authority to approve or decline any potential changes to the PGA Tour as part of the merger framework discussions.
The final meeting between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is scheduled for December 31, just five days before the Sentry Tournament of Champions starts in Hawaii.
The world no. 3 is one of the biggest stars in golf, and his presence at the Sentry Tournament of Champions would add more excitement and drama to the event. However, his fate is in the hands of the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the player directors who represent his peers. He will need their goodwill and support to defend his title, or else he will have to watch from the sidelines.
Not only at the Sentry but if the merger comes through and Rahm gets a chance to play in the PGA Tour events, he will have the chance to defend his titles at a few other tournaments as well. The Spaniard will have a chance to compete in the American Express event and also the Genesis Invitational, both of which he won beautifully this year.
The two-time major winner was suspended from the PGA Tour, but he remains a part of the DP World Tour. This reflects that he still has some ties to the traditional tours. What would Rahm’s future be like? Only time will tell! Stay tuned to find out!
