Jon Rahm has sparked friction between the players on the PGA Tour after demands relating to a potential merger with LIV Golf.
With a deal between the two having been announced in June 2023, progress on a move that would see golfers compete across both the PGA Tour and LIV schedule has been slow.
Bloomberg reports that the crux of the issue, perhaps unsurprisingly, boils down to disagreements about pay.
The outlet claims players on the Tour want Rahm, and other former PGA players, to hand back money they’ve earned while playing the LIV circuit.
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Rahm is particularly relevant in this matter, given he ditched the PGA Tour last year, before penning a whopping reported £227million ($300million) contract with the PIF-backed organiser.
It’s suggested other Tour players would be keen to see LIV-contracted stars pay fines to compete in PGA-ran events, donate money to charity, or in the most extreme cases, agree to forfeit money they win from PGA Tour competitions.
Unsurprisingly, Rahm and his LIV Golf counterparts aren’t particularly pleased with the terms of these suggestions, instead, they believe taking a risk and leaving the already-established PGA Tour for a new competition isn’t something that should be penalised.
It’s something the Spaniard commented on last week after pocketing an extra £13.6m ($18m) for topping the LIV Golf league over the year.
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Speaking in Chicago, Rahm said: "They've been too quick to judge. I think the vast majority of them would absolutely love spending a day out here.
“Most people that don't like the music, the second they come, they get over it. It's part of the atmosphere like in many other sports, and as a player and as a family man, it's been a fantastic experience for myself and my family the times that they've been able to come."
However, it isn’t just about money. In fact, the report also claims PGA Tour players are reluctant to agree on something that would see them taken across the world to play golf.
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Traditionally the PGA Tour has taken place in North America, with the majority of events in the United States.
By contrast, LIV players have competed in several different locations across the world, including the US, England, Australia, Spain, Singapore, and of course, Saudi Arabia.
As a result, it appears plenty will need to be thrashed out before the PGA Tour and LIV Golf can finalise the deal.
