Shane Lowry is Not a Fan of Jon Rahm’s Interviews, Says LIV ‘Owns Him Now’

Shane Lowry, winner of the 2019 Open Championship, has always been outspoken, so it comes as no surprise that he had some comments about fellow European Ryder Cup team member Jon Rahm joining LIV Golf.

Speaking at a press event for the DP World Tour’s 2024 Irish Open, Lowry said while he’s not a fan of everything that Rahm had to say, he understands the reasoning behind it.

‘It’s hard to listen to those who say the reason they went to LIV Golf was to grow the game’ – Shane Lowry https://t.co/bNk1SaFVyQ

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) December 21, 2023

Lowry said:

“I think what Jon said about growing the game and stuff, that’s obviously what they have to say. They’ve signed on the dotted line. They’ve been told by the communications team that this is what you say when you’re asked this and you have no other choice really because they own you now.” 

Lowry was asked if the fractured nature of the sport at the professional level is damaging for the game.

Lowry answered:

“I don’t know if it’s been damaging, but people who have spent their hard-earned money going out to join a golf club and buy golf clubs and play golf for the weekend, it’s tough for them to listen to the guy who’s already worth whatever say he has to do this to put food on the table for his wife and kids.”

For Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm’s controversial move to LIV Golf hammered home his own need to be more ‘selfish’ in his approach moving forward. pic.twitter.com/91MANr8STx

— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 20, 2023

Despite the comments, Lowry said that he hopes Rahm will still be able to join the 2025 Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black:

“I am sure Rahmbo can play well enough to make the team, so if he doesn’t resign his membership, he can still make the team.” 

Several European stars, such as Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, resigned their DP World Tour membership instead of opting to pay fines for playing on the LIV circuit, which made them ineligible for the 2023 Ryder Cup. Rahm has said that he is not planning to resign from the DPWT or PGA Tour, but the PGA Tour has already indefinitely suspended him.

Cover Image via Golfweek