Fred Couples tears into LIV Golf stars after Jon Rahm move

Fred Couples has delivered a withering assessment of the apparent hypocrisy from LIV golfers when moving to the Saudi-funded league.

Jon Rahm sent shockwaves through professional golf last week when it was announced he would be the latest big name to leave the PGA Tour for LIV in a move reported to be worth up to $450million.

Rahm had previously declared his “fealty” to the PGA Tour and claimed the “only appeal” of the Greg Norman-fronted series was money.

And the Masters champion had been unequivocal on LIV’s unique format, stating that a ‘shotgun [start] with three days to me is not a golf tournament.’

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But upon joining LIV, Rahm said: “It was a great offer. The money is great, it is wonderful.” He also discussed his hopes of being able to reach a new audience in the sport.

“Seeing the growth and evolution and the innovation is something that’s captured my attention, and that’s why we are here today,” he said after the seismic announcement.

It would be fair to say, however, that Couples was not on board with Rahm’s explanation.

“I want them to go for free,” the 1992 Masters champion said on the SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio.

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“Then go on CNN and every TV show and say why they’re going because it’s that good, $100m doesn’t get it, $200m doesn’t get it, $300m doesn’t get it. But for $400m it’s a great product and it’s a great show… my ass.

“Tell me the next guy, if its Tony Finau, ‘I’m going for free, I love this tour, I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’

“No-one is going to do that. What does that tell me? It tells me it’s all about money which is fine. But don’t sit there and then go on and say they’re changing the game. What are they changing? For 50 years golf has been changed.

“Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it. The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.