Jon Rahm is ‘happy’ with LIV Golf’s recent decision to ditch the existing 54 holes format for the tradition 72 holes. The Spaniard’s comment accepting the move came just hours after Bryson DeChambeau expressed displeasure over the same move.
For the unversed, DeChambeau claimed being unsold on the league’s impending format shift. The two-time U.S. Open champion said the players, including him, didn’t originally ‘sign up to play for 72.’ His comment on making the switch was soon backed by other players like Paul Casey and Louis Oosthuizen. Despite the disagreement from his rivals, Rahm has now admitted pushing for the new format.
The 2023 Masters champion claimed, set to open his new LIV season in Riyadh this weekend, said ‘more golf’ will make the players and teams ‘stronger.’
Jon Rahm said in Riyadh, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“I’m happy about it. I would say I was one of the people that pushed for it. So obviously I’m happy about it. I think the more golf we play, the better for stronger teams and stronger players, and I think it will benefit us four individuals and as a team, as well.”
It is pertinent to note that Rahm had originally welcomed LIV’s proposed format change back in November last year. The two-time major champion dubbed it a ‘win for the league and its players’ as it brought them closer to attaining world ranking points and add to the competition.
Bryson DeChambeau disagrees with Jon Rahm’s LIV format stance
While Rahm accepts the big format change, DeChambeau is unhappy about it. The two-time US Open champion openly recorded his displeasure with the 72-hole format on Monday. The 32-year-old golfer stated that the move “changed away from” the series’ original promise and opined that players didn’t sign up to the Saudi-league to play for 72.
DeChambeau told Today’s Golfer ahead of LIV Golf Riyadh:
“It’s definitely changed away from what we had initially been told it was going to be. So, there is some movement that we’ve all been, I would say, interested in, and going, ‘Why that movement?’ Because we were told it was going to be (54 holes). So that’s definitely made us have some different thoughts about it.”
It is pertinent to note that DeChambeau is one of the three golfers who could apply to PGA Tour reinstatement under the American circuit’s newly introduced Returning Member Program. The ace golfer’s future with LIV Golf remains in doubt as his contract, ending this season, is yet to be renewed.
It is also noteworthy that Cam Smith and Rahm are the other golfers eligible to follow Koepka to the PGA via the new returning program. Unlike DeChambeau, the Spaniard seem happy with the format change. It’ll be interesting to see if the 31-year-old golfer’s stance change in the future.
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