'I Don't Do This For The Money' - Rahm Pledges Allegiance To PGA Tour

The world number one also made his feelings clear when asked about the breakaway Saudi Golf League

Rahm waves
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The talk of the Saudi Golf League has dominated proceedings over the last few weeks. However, in an interview at the Genesis Invitational on Wednesday, world number one, Jon Rahm, made his feelings clear, stating that: "I take this time to say that this is my official, my one and only time I'll talk about this where I am officially declaring, let's say, my affiliation to the PGA Tour."

So far, we do know that the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Collin Morikawa have publicly backed their support for the PGA Tour, with Rahm also among those star players to pledge their allegiance to the Tour.

McIlroy speaks at a press conference

McIlroy revealed on Wednesday that he is "so sick" of talking about the rumoured Saudi Super League.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"I'm a PAC ( Player Advisory Council) member and I have a lot of belief in Jay Monahan and the product that they're going to give us in the future," said the US Open champion. "There has been a lot of talk and speculation on the Saudi League. It's just not something I believe is the best for me and my future in golf, and I think the best legacy I can accomplish will be with the PGA Tour.

"I've said it many times in press conferences before, I don't do this for the money, which to me is the only appeal to go over there. They throw numbers at you and that's supposed to impress people. I'm in this game for the love of golf and the love of the game and to become a champion, right? I grew up watching many great players play great events such as this one and there's history and legacy to those things. That's something that has a lot of appeal to me.

"You know, you hear all those things that are going on. Like oh, some players might have signed some NDA, some players might have signed and committed. I'm somebody who's kind of stayed away from it on purpose, and some of the things I heard and rumours coming from Saudi, I thought there would be a pretty good week, especially yesterday we had our first PAC meeting. Being a PAC member, I thought, you know, I'm in a situation where it's almost a little bit of my duty to make my stand in this instance."

Rahm hits a wedge shot

Rahm has three top-10 finishes in his last four starts.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the criticism, Rahm believes that: "Everybody's free to make their own choice". However: "From somebody young like myself who has his entire future ahead of him, it doesn't seem like a smart thing. Again, the only appeal I see is monetary, right? So like I said just earlier on, I think there's a lot more to be able to play for besides just money on the PGA Tour. There's history, there's legacy. At the end of the day, I'm in this to win tournaments, I'm in this to play against the best in the world. Yeah, that has a lot of value to it.

"I made it very clear to my management team to don't even bother me with it until this was something that was maybe real and it never came back. The only things I ever heard were from players. To me, again, the only thing they have is, oh, you get -- you hear, oh, Bryson got $135 million, this person got $100 million.

"I already made more money in my life than I ever thought I was going to make, so that's not the appealing part to me, right? Week in and week out over here you're playing against the best players in the world. I don't think the PGA Tour's a bad product and it's only going to get better."

DeChambeau smiles

According to sources, Bryson DeChambeau has reportedly been offered $240 million to be the face of the new SGL.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Over the past week, we have heard that a number of players like Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood have signed non-disclosure agreements, with a report in the Daily Mail, stating that the Saudis are luring golf's leading stars by offering shares of a gigantic £1.5 billion pot, with five 'future Ryder Cup captains' allegedly sitting on £20 million signing-on proposals. 

Just recently, in a tweet by Alan Shipnuck, it was revealed that a possible announcement about the rumoured SGL is set to take place the week of The Players Championship, which is the PGA Tour's flagship event.

For a number of the world's elite though, it seems that the thought of money doesn't appeal one bit, with a number of the world's top-10 choosing the PGA Tour over the breakaway Saudi Golf League.

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Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x