- Jon Rahm inked a $500m deal to join the Saudi-backed breakaway last week
- He made his first public appearance since the move in his native Basque Country
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Jon Rahm revealed he is under instruction to keep a low profile following his defection to LIV Golf.
The Spaniard, 29, inked a $500million deal to join the Saudi-backed breakaway last week and is set to start his LIV Golf career in its 2024 season, starting in February.
The big-money move made headlines across the world after Rahm had previously pledged his loyalty to the PGA Tour amid the controversial breakaway’s poaching of players.
And in his first public appearance since joining LIV, the Masters champion revealed he was planning to fly under the radar until February.
‘I didn’t think there would be any cameras and that it would be a bit more intimate,’ Rahm said as he accepted the ‘Dama Bilbaina 2023’ – a prize awarded by the Sociedad Bilbaina in his native Basque Country.
Jon Rahm revealed he is under instruction to keep a low profile following his LIV Golf defection
The Spaniard made his first public appearance since defecting in his native Basque Country
The 29-year-old inked a $500million deal to join the Saudi-backed breakaway last week
Rahm was there to receive the ‘Dama Bilbaina 2023’ prize awarded by the private club founded in 1839 in recognition of his sporting career.
‘I am under very strict instructions not to do public events, which I have imposed on myself a little bit for myself, and for the change I have given to the world of golf in the last week,’ Rahm said, giving a categorical ‘No!’ when asked if he was planning to give an interview.
‘There will be nothing until February, I’m not allowed to.’
One of golf’s most popular and charismatic figures, Rahm became the biggest name to sign on with LIV Golf since Australian Cameron Smith joined after winning the 2022 British Open.
He accepted the ‘Dama Bilbaina 2023’ – a prize awarded by the Sociedad Bilbaina
Rahm’s departure will be seen as another massive blow to the PGA Tour which has watched many of its stars defect to the breakaway league lured by massive paydays.
He described himself on Wednesday as a ‘normal person’.
‘I don’t consider that what I do is much different, and that I am more or less important than the rest,’ Rahm said.
‘The only thing is that I’m seen on TV right now and that’s it… hopefully a little less so in the future…’