Jose Maria Olazabal admits he probably would’ve made the same decision Jon Rahm did in signing with LIV Golf. That doesn’t mean the past major champion agrees with his fellow Spaniard’s choice.
The two-time Masters champ spoke with El Pais recently, and in the interview discussed Rahm, his move to LIV Golf and questions how it will affect Rahm’s legacy.
Moreso, Olazabal questioned whether his compatriot would be able to etch his name further in the history books because of the move.
“I respect that you go (to LIV) with those conditions, with the huge amount of millions that they put on the table for you,” Olazabal said, which was translated from Spanish for this article.
“I respect that, but I was surprised because Jon had been very clear in his words and because he had an extraordinary future and the opportunity to make history in this sport, to write golden pages of golf. And I don’t know if he’ll be able to do it now.”
Last year, Rahm won LIV Golf’s individual championship, collecting two wins along the way. In the 2024 majors, he finished T-45 at the Masters and T-7 at the Open Championship, but he missed the cut at the PGA Championship and withdrew from the U.S. Open with an injury.
LIV Golf’s schedule is another thing Olazabal picked at, saying he questions how Rahm can be ready to compete with a less-strenuous test leading up to the year’s biggest events.
“I don’t know if playing LIV is the best preparation to be able to stand out in the (majors). From my point of view it’s not the best option,” Olazabal said. “Above all it can hurt him in terms of competitiveness.
“I don’t question Jon’s self-esteem, work and attitude at any time. When he gets to the Masters this year he’s going to give it his all and he’s going to prepare himself in the best way, but the rest of the season, playing 12 or 14 tournaments without a cut, with 54 players… it’s not the same as playing against 150 and knowing that you can go home.”
Olazabal, 59, didn’t stop there, picking at a little bit of everything LIV Golf has to offer. He tied it all back to players chasing dollar signs.
“Call me traditional but I don’t like the format,” Olazabal said. “I don’t like the fact that they all come out at the same time, in three days, without a break… the music.
“It makes me sad that money has divided golf. It’s because of money, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve always respected the decision of those who have left.
“If you had put a check in front of me with a bunch of zeroes on it, I might have done it, too. But it’s a shame that money has destroyed in such a short time what had been built up over so many years.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jose Maria Olazabal questions Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf move, history
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