Former world No. 1 Jon Rahm gave a telling reaction when discussing the PGA Tour's new plans for elevated events, amid the circuit's ongoing battle with LIV Golf. On Wednesday PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced a whole host of new plans coming to the Tour in 2023.
One of these was introducing 12 elevated events with an average of £17 million on offer at each tournament. Monahan added that the circuit's elite group of players had also committed to playing 20 events on the calendar, including the elevated events, major championships and the Players Championship.
Before being made public, Tour chiefs - with the help of golfing great Tiger Woods - showcased the plans to the American-based circuit's top 22 players in a meeting at the BMW Championship in Delaware to keep them onside in their war with LIV.
One man who took part in the all-player crunch meet up was Rahm, but when the idea of playing 20 tournaments in one campaign was put to him at this week's Tour Championship he was left puzzled. As well as competing in 20 PGA Tour events, the Spaniard and his fellow European players will have to play in at least four DP World Tour events in order to qualify for selection for next year's Ryder Cup.
There is no doubt that is a lot of golf - even for the world's best - and this point was put to Rahm following his second round at East Lake on Friday. When asked if he felt the new plans was too much for the European players he remarkably responded: "There are 20 [events]?”
He went on: “Wait, we have to play all of them? If we have to play all of those 20, then yeah 100%. I wouldn't be surprised if that changes as that puts me in a difficult position... If I go and play in Europe in the fall like I'm going to, I have to play from January to August 20 times. I think this (Tour Championship) is my 17th since January and I don't think I could add any more.
"Especially with the Ryder Cup and having to play four in Europe, I think that's a bit of an ask and I wouldn't be surprised if they revise a bit of the rule or make an exception for some players. If they do it for players like me and Rory, they might have to do it for everybody."
Two men who have been instrumental in backing the PGA Tour in the fight against LIV Golf's threat are Woods and fellow star Rory McIlroy, with the pair both speaking at last week's meeting as well as forming their own business venture TMRW Sports that will work in unison with the tour.
Following Rahm's comments, the Spaniard was asked if he 'knew something we don't' but was quick to insinuate the only two players to ask on any plan changing is Woods and McIlroy.
Laughing the question off with a smile on his face, he responded: "Me? No, you’re asking the wrong guy, if you wanna know about that stuff you know who are the two players you have to ask."
