Reigning champ Rahm not among commitments to American Express،
Jon Rahm was not among the notable names listed as committed to the American Express course next month as rumors persist that the world No. 3 could leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
Rahm plays regularly at the American Express in La Quinta, California as part of his West Coast swing. He has won the event twice – including this year – and is tied for 14th in 2022.
However, he was not among the headline names released Tuesday by tournament organizers, a list that included Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau and Tom Kim.
Often, the defending champion competes in the following year's event, although it should be noted that the 2024 PGA Tour schedule includes eight designated events, requiring players who qualify for them to carefully evaluate their calendar in conjunction with the four majors and the Players Championship.
The Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines – the site of Rahm's first major triumph at the 2021 US Open – takes place the week after the American Express. This is followed by the first designated event at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. And that tournament is immediately followed by the WM Phoenix Open, a short drive from Rahm's home in Scottsdale, and the Genesis Invitational, where he is also the defending champion.
Rahm has not commented on his future following reports he is considering an offer of more than $300 million to sign with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.
Rahm initially signed on to the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-backed TGL Project, only to later withdraw from the virtual league's inaugural season, citing scheduling constraints. The TGL has since postponed its first season until 2025 due to damage caused to its facilities by a collapsed roof.
Rahm also wasn't in the Bahamas last week, where 20 big-name players competed in the Hero World Challenge hosted by Woods.
Woods and Jordan Spieth were asked about the Rahm-LIV rumors while in the Bahamas.
“I know some guys have talked to him,” Spieth said Friday. “I know he's maybe thinking about some decisions, maybe not. I really don't know, so I don't want to insult him and say he's weighing decisions if he already knows he doesn't doesn't do it or that he is. You know, it's a little bit out of my control in a way.
“Obviously, I could probably speak for over 200 PGA Tour players in saying we really hope he continues with us.”
Woods, when asked about rumors of more players signing with LIV, added on Friday: “Nothing has really surprised me other than the fact that there are so many different things that have happened so quickly. It's one of the things that all of our — We've all worked as player-directors that we've worked on, just that everything is now at a critical juncture.
“We spend 24 hours a day trying to figure it out.”
The PGA Tour is working to meet the Dec. 31 deadline for a framework agreement put in place with the Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour in June. Commissioner Jay Monahan said last week that the deadline to finalize that deal remains “a firm goal.”
Information from media on the ground was used in this report.
