While it was widely assumed that the PGA Tour's pending partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) would bring an end to the defection of high profile stars to LIV Golf, the switch made by Jon Rahm this week was a reminder that the breakaway tour is still a major player at the highest level of the sport.
Having initially resisted the temptation to jump ship last year, the Spaniard has now officially confirmed his move to the Saudi-backed tour. The rumoured pay package of around $500million he was offered probably helped make his mind up on the matter.
With the PGA Tour and the PIF still working out the specifics and complexities of their new partnership, the move means that most golf fans will likely be seeing far less of Jon Rahm on the television screens over the next couple of years. That is a huge blow when you consider that he is one of the most talented and popular players in the sport.
As a result, most golf fans are not exactly pleased with the switch. However, some believe it could end up being good for the sport.
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Butch Harmon has unique take on John Rahm LIV Golf switch
While the prevailing opinion out there at the moment is that Jon Rahm's LIV Golf move is an unfortunate reminder of the power of money at the top level of golf, Butch Harmon feels it could end up being a unifying factor in the game.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the renowned coach said that if the likes of Jon Rahm continue to move to LIV Golf, it only becomes more likely that it will merge with the PGA in some manner in the near future.
I think the more you see some of these players defect to the LIV tournament, it's going to make it easier for everyone to get back together again. This may be the start of making that happen.
I think they're going to have to push to get the PGA Tour together with LIV, and the DP World Tour, get them to talk and try to figure out a way for them to all live happily together.
You may see LIV continuing to live the way they are, or you might see someone from the European tour and the American tour to be able to go back and forth and play one of each.
They've said all along that will never happen but what happened [with Rahm] is going to bring this closer to fruition and get them all to the same events at the same time. And that's all we want as fans.
That is one way to look at things.
The PGA Tour will want to have all of the best players on their roster, meaning they will be forced to consider some sort of merger with LIV Golf if stars such as Jon Rahm continue to cross that divide.
In saying that, the fact that the PIF can have such a decisive say on the future of the sport will not sit well with a large portion of golf fans.
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