LIV Golf may have landed their biggest blow in golf's ongoing rivalry, with Jon Rahm reportedly considering a switch to the lucrative Saudi-Arabia funded circuit.
Although he has not held back in his criticism of the Tour, Rahm - who won the Masters back in April - has been one of the players who has remained loyal to the PGA Tour in the past couple of years as the league has lured away a number of the sport's biggest stars to compete for it's riches on offer.
Former Open champion Cam Smith joined just weeks after his maiden major title, representing a huge coup for the circuit but Rahm, the world number three and a member of Europe's Ryder Cup winning team in September would arguably represent their biggest capture to date.
Back in June, the PGA Tour announced a proposed framework for a merger with LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. No agreement has been reached, with an initial deadline set for December 31, although there have been reports that could be extended if necessary.
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According to Bunkered, Rahm has been in negotiations with LIV Golf over completing a switch to the league. It comes on the back of recent suggestions from Phil Mickelson that a number of high profile names were still keen to make the move across.
It is also claimed that the move would give him significant status to shape some of the competition's rules - a luxury usually afforded to the captains of the teams and some of the high-earning players. However, it has also been stated that there is no indication of an imminent agreement being reached for Rahm to sign up for the league, which is funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).
Rahm was originally set to be part of the new tech-infused golf league led by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, TGL. However, the Spaniard announced on social media earlier this month that he would not be involved in the new tournament.
"I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season," wrote Rahm on Twitter on November 2. "While I still think it’s a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment that I can’t offer. Best of luck to everyone involved and may the best team win!"
As a result of Rahm withdrawing from the TGL, it led to initial speculation that he could be set to sign up for LIV Golf instead. McIlroy was recently asked about the possibility of his Ryder Cup teammate leaving the PGA Tour in favour of the Saudi-funded league.
“I spoke to Jon a couple days ago and would be very, very surprised if that were to happen,” McIlroy told reporters on November 7. “I’m pretty confident Jon is a PGA Tour player.”
When the news first emerged of the PGA Tour and LIV alliance on June 6, Rahm was asked in the days afterward for his reaction. The World No.3 admitted that he felt a sense of "betrayal" from the PGA Tour.
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"I think it gets to a point where you want to have faith in management, and I want to have faith that this is the best thing for all of us, but it's clear that that's not the consensus," Rahm told reporters on June 14, ahead of the US Open.
"I think the general feeling is that a lot of people feel a bit of betrayal from management.
"I understand why they had to keep it so secret. I understand we couldn't make it through a PAC [Players' Advisory Council] meeting for more than 10 minutes before people are spilling the beans right away in some article by you guys. I get it, I get the secrecy.
"It's just not easy as a player that's been involved, like many others, to wake up one day and see this bombshell. That's why we're all in a bit of a state of limbo because we don't know what's going on and how much is finalised and how much they can talk about."