Jon Rahm became LIV Golf’s latest mega-money signing, after the Masters champion signed on the dotted line earlier this month. Rahm made golfing history with his Saudi switch, after being handed a reported £450 million deal to join Greg Norman and the LIV setup.
The Spaniard is the latest PGA Tour star to make the controversial jump, following in the footsteps of the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and fellow countryman Sergio Garcia. In the meantime though it appears the breakaway league are keen to add more big names to their history.
Tony Finau
One man who looked destined to follow in the footsteps of Rahm was six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau. According to the Telegraph Finau was in talks to join the breakaway league, with rumours circulating that he was set to join Rahm’s soon-to-be-announced team.
The rumours were soon put to bed though, after Finau confirmed he would be returning to the PGA Tour in 2024 in a statement on social media. “I’m excited for 2024 and looking forward to playing my 10th season on the PGA Tour,” he wrote before signing off with the hashtag #Imnotleaving.
Tyrrell Hatton
Alongside Finau, one other big name who the LIV setup were reportedly keen to get their hands on was Tyrrell Hatton. Hatton played alongside Rahm in Europe’s 16.5-11.5 Ryder Cup victory over the USA, and there were hopes the pair would reunite on the breakaway series.
It appears however that the Englishman is going to stay put for now, after it was announced he would join the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood in competing at next month’s Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour.
Ludvig Aberg
Similar to Hatton, Swede Ludvig Aberg also accompanied Rahm in October’s Ryder Cup win, and was also given the chance to sign with LIV Golf. The Swede has announced himself as golf’s hottest prospects since turning pro in June, and was unsurprisingly on the radar for Norman and his team.
Aberg however has opted to turn down the offer from the breakaway league, one he has received on more than one occasion. In an interview with Eurosport he pledged his loyalties to the PGA Tour, admitting he saw a number of ‘red flags’ when it came to the LIV setup.
Scottie Scheffler
It would take something special for LIV Golf to better the signing of Rahm, but one name who may just do that is Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler has announced himself as the best golfer on the planet in the past two seasons, and aside from the lucrative names of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, would prove to be a dream signing for CEO Norman.
Like Aberg however Scheffler is said to have rejected the chance to join the breakaway league earlier this year after being offered a deal worth ‘tens of millions’ according to Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.
