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<\/p>\nJon Rahm has joined LIV Golf <\/p>\n
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Paul McGinley has accused Jon Rahm of betraying golf fans\u2019 trust after the reigning Masters champion\u2019s defection to LIV Golf.<\/p>\n
Once a staunch critic of the breakway Saudi-backed series, Rahm has signed up with LIV on a deal reported to be worth up to \u00a3450m.<\/p>\n
It serves as another blow to the PGA Tour, with Rahm one of golf biggest current stars and a leading voice for the sport.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard had previously said that he did not like LIV\u2019s 54-hole, no cut tournament format, while also suggesting that the monetary rewards on offer \u201cwould not change\u201d his lifestyle.<\/p>\n
McGinley, a four-time winner on the European tour, has criticised Rahm\u2019s apparent hypocrisy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many people have completely reversed their position,\u201d the Irishman told Sky Sports. \u201cJon came out very, very strongly in support of the tours, and came out very strongly that this was not a good format, that he didn\u2019t enjoy it, he didn\u2019t see any future in it.<\/p>\n
\u201c[He said] he was chasing his own career and titles on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, and obviously the Ryder Cup. He knows that, by going here, it\u2019s going to put a lot of that in jeopardy.<\/p>\n
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Paul McGinley captained Team Europe to Ryder Cup victory in 2014 <\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it does or not, we\u2019ll have to wait and see. It\u2019s a complete reversal of the position that he has stood very strongly on. A number of players who have gone over to LIV have done the same thing \u2014 they\u2019ve said one thing and then done another. <\/p>\n
\u201cWho do you believe any more? You can\u2019t take anyone\u2019s word any more because people reverse their positions quickly and, it seems, pretty easily.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rahm\u2019s move comes amid discussions over a possible partnership between LIV and the two established tours.<\/p>\n
The PGA and DP World organisations announced earlier this year that they would discuss a merger, with a deadline of the end of the year set to conclude a deal.<\/p>\n
McGinley wonders if Rahm\u2019s defection suggests that an agreement is not close. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not involved in these high-level discussions that are going on,\u201d McGinley said. \u201cThere is rumoured to be a deal, and I think ultimately there is going to be a deal. I\u2019m hoping that the game will be unified again at some stage. <\/p>\n
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Jon Rahm is the latest high-profile defector to the Saudi-backed series <\/p>\n
\u201cIs there enough room in the schedule for the players to play 14 or 15 events, and still play 14 or 15 events between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Ryder Cups? No \u2014 the players don\u2019t want to play 30 tournaments a year. It is a very crammed situation now. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping there is going to be a deal. I thought we were going to do a deal with Saudi and there was going to be an announcement, but obviously that has taken a turn for the worse. Saudi probably didn\u2019t think things were going their way to get an agreement together, so they have brought out the chequebook to put things in their favour.\u201d<\/p>\n