Three-time DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm has revealed that slipping into the Green Jacket last year after winning the Masters Tournament was a decisive factor in John Rahm's decision to switch to LIV Golf.
The Spaniard had previously pledged his loyalty to the PGA and DP World Tour, but shocked the golfing world when defecting to LIV Golf in December for a rumored $450m.
Now it seems that one of the reasons for the U-Turn was the fact the 29-year-old secured a lifetime exemption into the Masters Tournament along with multi-year exemptions into the other three Major Championships after becoming only the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters Tournament last April.
"Winning the Masters was a huge step towards maybe thinking about it," Rahm told Golf.com's Breakthrough.
"Being exempt from majors, knowing that most likely you can play the Masters for life and the U.S. Open until 2031, you know, I'm set with two of those right so it was it was a big determining factor."
Rahm, who has never finished outside the top five in five DP World Tour Championship outings, wasn’t previously tempted by the eye-watering amounts the breakaway league was offering back in 2022, but now admits his feelings changed.
"When I said that I fully meant it and it was true. Now, when they slap you with a large amount of money in your face, your feelings do change," Rahm said.
"I try not to be a materialistic person, but I do owe it to my family as well to set them up for success the best I can, and having kids I think changed that quite a bit. So the money is a part of it; I'm not going to lie."
The Ryder Cupper made his first LIV Golf start last week, finishing third in the individual standings while his team, Legion XIII, locked up the team victory in Mayakoba. The league continues this week at Las Vegas Country Club.
