Shane Lowry, a teammate of Jon Rahm at the Ryder Cup, has expressed skepticism about Rahm’s recent decision to join LIV Golf, the breakaway golf league. Lowry, the Irish golfer, believes that Rahm’s statements about wanting to “grow the game” were likely scripted by the communications team and that Rahm now feels compelled to convey a specific narrative.
In a recent article by Golfweek, The Masters champion, Rahm, who secured a reported £450 million contract with LIV Golf, emphasized that his decision was influenced by factors beyond financial gain, pointing to the opportunity to “grow the game” as a key motivation. Lowry, however, questioned the authenticity of Rahm’s remarks, suggesting that players in the breakaway league might not have much freedom in expressing their true opinions.
“They’ve been told by the communications team that this is what you say when you’re asked this, and you have no other choice really because they own you now,” remarked Lowry, implying that Rahm’s words may not fully reflect his stance.
Rahm, in justifying his move to LIV Golf, stated that the decision was made with his family’s well-being in mind. While the Masters champion feels comfortable with his choice, Lowry expressed concern about how average golf enthusiasts might perceive the situation.
“I don’t know if it’s been damaging [to golf],” Lowry said. “But people who have spent their hard-earned money going out to join a golf club and buy golf clubs and play golf for the weekend, it’s tough for them to listen to the guy who’s already worth whatever says he has to do this to put food on the table for his wife and kids.”
Lowry’s remarks underscore the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of high-profile players joining breakaway leagues on the traditional values of the sport and the perceptions of dedicated golf enthusiasts.