Jon Rahm Calls for Joint PGA & European Decision for Ryder Cup, Foresees Awkward Masters Champions Dinner

The PGA Tour is back in action after a break for the holidays, and not surprisingly, the talk continues to revolve around LIV Golf at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Jon Rahm, who ended the year on quite the hot streak by winning the DP World Tour Championship tournament in Dubai along with another European tour event in Spain and a top-five in his only PGA Tour start of the fall, commented on two developments regarding LIV and the PGA Tour pros in 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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First, in a follow-up to his comments back in October, Rahm said he hopes that whatever decision is made regarding LIV players in the Ryder Cup, he hopes it’s a joint decision from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

The PGA Tour’s stance is that U.S. LIV players will be banned, but there’s pending litigation over whether LIV golfers will be able to play on the DP World Tour, and that sanctioning body controls the European side of the Ryder Cup.

I don’t think it would be smart to have one team allowing LIV players and one not to,” Rahm said.

He also pointed out, however, that the European team could still excel if younger players step up to replace the likes of Sergio Garcia and others who wouldn’t be eligible:

“Even if they decide not to on that side, I think it’s going to give an opportunity for a lot of great young players to show up and have the chance in Europe, right? It’s just going to be an opportunity for all of them. We saw a younger U.S. team last Ryder Cup and they did what they did.”

Rahm also doesn’t foresee any problems between PGA Tour players and LIV golfers when they tee it up together at the Masters in April, but he did quip that there may be some awkward moments before the tournament itself.

Rahm joked:

“One thing I keep going back to, and it’s probably only funny to me, but I think the Masters champions dinner’s going to be a little tense compared to how it’s been in the past.”

Jon Rahm +650.00
Scottie Scheffler +885.71
Patrick Cantlay +1014.29
Xander Schauffele +1035.71
Justin Thomas +1071.43#PgaOdds #PGABets #BettingTwitter

— PGA Odds 📈 (@PgaOdds) January 4, 2023

Rahm is the odds-on favorite to win this weekend. Defending champion Cameron Smith is ineligible to compete due to his affiliation with LIV Golf.

Cover Image Via Yahoo Sports