Jon Rahm and LIV Golf rebels get very brave as ‘respectful’ Masters agreement threatened
Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm returns to the Masters no longer a member of the PGA Tour – and he’s not the only LIV Golf rebel to be playing this weekend
Jon Rahm took to Augusta National on Monday wearing his Legion XIII hat – with the LIV Golf logo clearly emblazoned on the side.
Clearly not perplexed to disturbed any PGA Tour onlookers, the Spaniard hit irons on the extend additionally played many hone gaps with the two logos in plain locate. Final year at the Masters, none of the LIV Golf players wore attire with the brand’s official symbol on.
In spite of the fact that, Phil Mickelson did wear a shirt and cap with his team’s HyFlyers symbol clearly on appear. This came after a meeting between LIV rebels prior to the 2023 competition who concurred to discard the branding from their sacks and dress as a stamp of regard.
Open winner Cameron Smith indeed made a joke almost bringing a alter of dress to Georgia final year. “I have another set of dress made up this week without them [the group logos],” he said. “We haven’t truly listened much from Augusta National approximately the logos. For me by and by, I’m truly pleased of where I’m at and what I’m doing. Unless it’s a issue for these folks, I’m planning to wear it.”
That’s not the case this year, in any case. As well as Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau wore his team’s Crushers cap whereas a Crushers golf pack was moreover spotted at the run.
In normal design, Mickelson kept on wear his HyFlyers hat amid practice on Monday. Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, be that as it may, wore TaylorMade and Nike caps.
It is the boldest LIV appearing however at the Experts and a sign of the heading of travel since its beginning and the disputably commentator merger. Rahm’s absconding to LIV especially harmed the PGA Visit, particularly as his win at the Aces final year was proclaimed as a triumph for the association.
Rahm himself has admitted that his exit can have quickened merger talks between the two bodies, with a assembly as of late taking put within the Bahamas. PGA chief Jay Monahan portrayed the talks as ‘constructive’ but advertised small understanding.
On the impact of his exit, in any case, Rahm told BBC Sport :
“That’s a well-thought-out contention. I may be the begin of a tipping point in that sense,” Rahm said. “I caught on the weight that [my] choice seem have and the impact it may have. I caught on that superbly and that’s why it wasn’t a straightforward choice.
“The adjust of golf might be irritated a small bit. Fortunately in my career, particularly final year, I accomplished a part and I have to be be one of the greater names in golf. There are few dynamic players that seem have had a greater affect than myself in that sense. Not to be tapping myself on the back as well much, but I caught on the position I was in.”