Jon Rahm jumps ship from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in eye-watering deal worth ‘upwards of $570MILLION’… with the Saudi rebel tour confirming his move by posting a word search with his name in on social media

Jon Rahm has finalized terms for a move to the LIV tournament, which will pay the Masters champion more than £400 million ($570 million) and is considered the most devastating blow to the PGA Tour.

LIV announced the world number three’s defection by posting a search for his name, misspelled as “John” in rows four and five, on the X site, formerly known as Twitter, late on Thursday. This has been expected for weeks, despite the Spaniard’s repeated claims last year that he could not be bought.

Like so much else in golf’s civil war over the past two years, the vast wealth of LIV’s Saudi backers ultimately proved more convincing than the 29-year-old’s doubts.

His departure was a huge blow to the PGA Tour, and the timing couldn’t have been worse for traditional golf.

By kidnapping Rahm, LIV and the Saudis served as a reminder of what the PGA Tour could expect if merger talks fail, and also made it clear that any partnership they might end up with would not be an equal partnership.

Jon Rahm has officially left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, according to reports.

The world number three has reportedly signed a deal worth more than $570m (£450m).

It marks a huge coup for the Saudi-backed outfit (pictured left is PIF Governor Yasser Al-Rumayyan, right is LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman).

The deadline to complete these merger talks is the last day of this month, and the Saudis appear to have been spurred into action by the PGA Tour’s recent desire to attract alternative US investment – Saudi Arabia’s response to this threat of being excluded. was a rip-off of one of their biggest names.

Ram and his team have always categorically distanced themselves from LIV, whose interest has been constant since their launch. LIV players told Mail Sport last month that a deal for Rahm was in fact done, and one of his representatives laughed off the possibility when approached at the DP World Tour Championships in Dubai.

This in turn follows Rahm’s comments three months ago when he said: “I laugh when people say I play LIV Golf.” I never liked this format. My heart belongs to the PGA Tour.”

Leaving the PGA Tour would be Rahm’s first major exit since Cameron Smith left after winning The Open last year.

As the reigning Masters champion and 2021 US Open winner, Rahm will be exempt from all major tournaments for at least the next five years.

However, his future in the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage in New York remains in doubt after fellow LIV rebels and Team Europe heroes Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson were banned from qualifying for the team Luke Donald after joining him. LIV last year.

Just months earlier, Rahm had teamed up with McIlroy and Viktor Hovland to lead a resurgent Team Europe to a five-point Ryder Cup victory over the United States in Rome, and he was expected to be another leading figure for Donald, who was confirmed as captain . Europeans for the second time in 2025.

Rahm has repeatedly ridiculed rumors that he would ditch the PGA Tour for one of LIV’s lucrative deals.

Rahm and Rory McIlroy helped Team Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup a few months ago.

The Spaniard’s defection could cost him his right to the Ryder Cup in 2025.

However, the move doesn’t come as much of a shock given the clear signs hinting at a defection over the past couple of months.

Rahm’s future first became uncertain after he pulled out of the inaugural TGL season co-hosted by McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Ram said about missing the TGL season: “I am sad to say that I will not be part of the first season of TGL. While I still think this is a great opportunity, it will require a level of commitment at this time that I cannot offer.”

A report by golfer Alan Shipnuck claims that Phil Mickelson told people that Rahm’s move to LIV was essentially a done deal, leading to the left-hander pulling out of the game.

But unlike in the past, Rahm remained silent on the rumors rather than publicly denying them, which only fueled rumors that he was preparing to retire from the PGA Tour.

Rahm fanned the flames when he decided not to defend his title at The American Express, a PGA Tour event.

Rahm has also maintained a close relationship with GC Fireballs captain Garcia following his fellow Spaniard’s move to LIV in 2022 and even petitioned for the European Rebels to be considered for Ryder Cup selection.

Rahm has less than a month to decide before the Dec. 31 framework agreement between the PGA Tour and PIF is signed to finalize the details of the truce.

The PGA Tour dropped a bombshell on June 6 when it announced that golf’s two warring factions were calling a truce that would see the PGA Tour, Europe’s DP World Tour and LIV Golf united under one umbrella.

The Spaniard has announced his decision to exit Tiger Woods and McIlroy’s TGL venture.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is expected to meet with Al-Rumayyan next week.

While the June merger ended ongoing legal battles between the two factions over the framework agreement, negotiations over the details of the deal are ongoing and are expected to be completed before the December 31 deadline.

But Ram’s defection could increase tensions in already fragile negotiations between all parties.

There were rumors of a deal falling through with the PGA Tour considering alternative options.

But with PIF Governor Yasser Al-Rumayyan set to meet with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan next week, his capture of Rahm could be the leverage needed to keep the Tour alive.