Greg Norman seems to disagree with Jon Rahm's LIV Golf money claim

11 December 2023 , 17:15

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Jon Rahm signed with LIV Golf last week (Image: AP)

Greg Norman has claimed there is 'way more' to LIV Golf than the money, after the Saudi-backed series added four new players to its roster including Masters champion Jon Rahm.

Norman was in attendance at Abu Dhabi Golf Club last weekend for the league's first ever Qualifying School event, LIV Promotions. The 72-hole tournament saw three players competing in the field earn spots on the rebel circuit for 2024, with Kalle Samooja, Jinichiro Kozuma and Kieran Vincent coming out on top.

A place on the LIV roster is no doubt a life-changing moment for the three qualifiers, who will join the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in competing for a £16million ($20m) at each event next year.

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LIV boss Norman however believes Samooja, Kozuma and Vincent benefits will not only be financial during their time with the league. "Take the prize money away," Norman said. "It's the fact that they get to be in the locker room and listen to those major champions and former No. 1's in the world and just be with them and understand what it takes to get to that level..

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"There's way more to it than just money." One former world No. 1 and major champion that the three qualifiers will be brushing shoulders with is Rahm, after his shock move to the breakaway league was finally announced late last week.

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Greg Norman claimed there is more to LIV Golf than money ((Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images))

The Spaniard becomes the latest big name to sign with Norman and co, following in the footsteps of the likes of Mickelson and Koepka. Rahm however will go down as the league's marque signing, having reportedly signed a record-breaking £450m.

And despite Norman playing down the importance of money, Rahm admitted the eye-watering sum more than a played a part in his decision. He told the Pat McAfee Show: "I'm not going to duck the question and I'll say it, obviously the money is very, very nice.

"I'm not going to give you the whole spiel. I still don't play golf for money, but as a father, as a husband, as a family man, I do owe it to my family to set them up the best I can, and luckily I have the possibility. So that was a big part of it."

The comments could not be further than Rahm's previous stance on the LIV Golf setup though. Speaking at last summer's U.S. Open, the 29-year-old discussed the remarkable amounts of money the Saudi-backed league were offering players but insisted he personally would not be lured in.

"Money is great, but when [wife] Kelley and I… this first thing happened, we started talking about it, and we're like, will our lifestyle change if I got $400million? No, it will not change one bit," he claimed in June 2022. "Truth be told, I could retire right now with what I've made and live a very happy life and not play golf again.

"So I've never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world. I've always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that."

Joshua Lees