LIV Golf chief government Greg Norman says that Jon Rahm’s transfer to the Saudi-backed circuit will “create a domino effect” of extra high-profile gamers making the profitable leap.
Reigning Masters champion Rahm final week joined LIV in a deal price a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in an enormous coup for the upstart tour.
LIV had already recruited main winners Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith, however Rahm was arguably the most important title but to go away the PGA Tour.
Speaking from Saudi Arabia to the BBC’s World Business Report, the Australian Norman — the general public face of LIV — mentioned there could be “more apples falling from the tree”.
“To have Jon on board is critically important to our next steps into the future and what we want to do,” Norman mentioned.
He added: “It will create a domino effect, there will be more apples falling from the tree, there’s no question about it because LIV continues to grow and develop.”
Spain’s Rahm had beforehand dominated out going to LIV, which held its inaugural season in 2022 and triggered a civil conflict in golf.
He is reportedly set to earn between $300-600 million.
“Since Jon signed, less than a week ago now, I know my phone is blowing up. I know we probably have eight to 12 players who are very, very keen to sit down and talk to us about coming on board,” Norman added.
Saudi Arabia’s foray into sport has triggered accusations that it’s “sportswashing” its human rights report.
Norman, a two-time main winner, mentioned that Saudi Arabia “really cares” about golf.
“If you see the way they’re embracing the game of golf, they’re investing in the game of golf in their country for their people into the future,” he mentioned.
Rahm’s transfer got here because the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV try to finalise the main points of their bombshell merger introduced in June.
A deadline of December 31 has been set to agree a framework for the brand new PGA-LIV three way partnership.