The sporting icon is set for an awkward dinner with Spain’s Rahm,
who has revealed there’s been a lack of communication between himself and Woods since his controversial move to LIV Golf.
Rahm sent shockwaves across the world of golf and sport in December
when he announced a move to the Saudi breakaway league, accepting a reported £333million to become their biggest signing to date.
Previously the league had only managed to sign lesser talents outside of the top ten due to the lack of meritocracy and money-first set-up of the competition,
but in securing 2023 Masters champion Rahm, golf has changed irreparably.
The world no.3 now heads into the tournament in Augusta on April 8, not only having to defend his title, but perhaps his reputation too, especially when it comes to Woods.
Before hitting the course, the 29-year-old first has to host the Champions’ Dinner with all previous winners, including Woods, who has five Green Jackets.
His Basque-inspired tapas and pintxos menu certainly looks delightful, but might not go down too well for Woods, who hasn’t spoken to Rahm since the move to LIV.
ESPN reported the silent treatment in February and Rahm said: “I mean, Tiger, I texted him and the people that try to reach out, you know, the process, when I signed and I just let him know, ‘Hey, you know, this is a personal decision. I have nothing against anybody.”
The decision came as surprising for some, but one of LIV’s most vocal critics, Rory McIlroy, did not turn down Rahm’s olive branch.
Speaking further on his jump from the PGA Tour, the Spaniard said: “This is a new change. A big change, I don’t want to skip through this point: A big change how golfers get compensated.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a big part of it. In a nutshell, I’m getting more to play the same sport and have more time. I don’t know about most people, but that sounds great to me.”
Woods turned down close to £1billion to join LIV, so Rahm better have some good sangria on offer if he’s to win over the golfing icon…
The 15-time major winner has been one of the fiercest opponents to Greg Norman’s project – which also features past Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson.
“I disagree with it,” Woods said of golfers who joined LIV in 2022.
“I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”
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Source: USA Today
