C.W.: Some language
The news of Jon Rahm defecting from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf had been rumoured for weeks. Rahm had gone incognito (seemingly) since the Ryder Cup, where he had helped Europe win back the trophy 16.5-11.5. He hadn't bothered to play the Hero World Challenge, though he would have definitely been eligible as one of the top five in the OWGR. And earlier this week, despite being the holder of the title at the American Express, he wasn't listed as a participating player for next month's renewal of that event. None of that matters now that Rahm has signed for at least $300 million--possibly $500 million--with LIV, for rumours have become reality. And though it seemed increasingly likely, I stepped out of the office at my workplace to let out a primal scream of rage.
In my opinion, Rahmbo's prior defence of proper tour golf seemed especially eloquent, more so than Rory McIlroy (whose own native tongue is English, for crying out loud). Rahm invoked legends of Spanish golf, both living (like Jose Maria Olazabal) and deceased, in so doing. He never said anything about blood money, wisely focusing on the format--only 54 holes, no cut and parallel team and individual components. Needless to say, when Rahm signed with LIV yesterday, something within me died. It was arguably because Rahm was a terrible hypocrite to defect.
 |
| Traitor. |
In contrast, for all his demons, Rahm's fellow-alumnus of Arizona State University, Phil Mickelson--also a multiple-major-winning golfer on his career who's defected to LIV--was at least upfront about his desire to alter the nature of tour golf. His interview with golf journalist Alan Shipnuck showed his honest feelings about the dual nature of collaborating with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). Though the Saudi government was willing to help Mickelson's endeavour, he knew their penchant for killing LGBTQ+ people and their involvement in the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, calling them "scary motherfuckers" to deal with. But he at least showed no qualms about his priority of redesigning tour golf, especially the PGA Tour, in justifying his eventual break with the established ecosystem to join the Saudi-funded one. Furthermore, Mickelson was approaching the end of his career as a mainstream golfer when he left for LIV. Rahm is only 29.
On a personal note, I am part of the generation that saw Tiger Woods rise to glory and fall from it, then come back for a while late last decade and win a few more big-time events. Growing up, then, I had believed in tour golf because of its meritocracy. The idea that you need to do well enough out of the gate at each tournament to earn official prize money, which only comes by making the cut. The idea that, if you win an event, you should get more job security than those who don't win events. The idea that, without a tournament win, you need to do well consistently to keep from being demoted or terminated. Even the events without a cut, such as the Tournament of Champions (now the Sentry), have come with strings attached, such as a win since the last edition or a high standing in the world or in the tour's order of merit. I mentioned Rahm invoking Spanish golf tradition. I swear the moment Rahm signed that contract with LIV, Seve Ballesteros turned his grave vault into an electric power turbine.
Earlier this fall, I gave up on college sports because money is driving out tradition and the sound institutions that made it great in the first place. I just hope that Rahm's departure for LIV will not cause me to lose my appetite for golf sooner or later. The whole conundrum of his treason against proper tour golf breaks my heart more than any result in any sport.
Edward the Scop
No comments:
Post a Comment