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‘Did Everything I Could..’: Phil Mickelson Revives Feud With Jay Monahan & Exposes Own Mistreatment by PGA Tour

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Phil Mickelson Jay Monahan

Phil Mickelson doesn’t want to leave any doubt over his contribution to the PGA Tour. 

Lefty in a recent conversation, spoke of his involvement in various sponsorship deals that the PGA Tour landed. Mickelson revealed he was ‘brought in’ to resolve a few stalemates.

His words, which are worth quoting in full, read: “For 30-plus years I did everything I could to help build the PGA Tour brand, and I would be brought in to help close the deal with many CEOs when they were on the brink of potentially signing a deal, whether it was Bob Diamond at Barclays, it was Rick Waddell at Northern Trust, it was the guys at Shell, Marvin Odom (sic). There were about seven to 10 times that I would come in and try to close the deal. That was my way to help trying to build the PGA Tour at that time. I’m no longer part of the Tour.”

READ: Rory McIlroy’s Marriage Story Taking an Unexpected Turn as PGA Fans Floored

It’s not clear in what capacity Lefty was involved. The PGA Tour signed a deal with Barclays Capital, the London-based multinational investment bank, in 2004 to host ‘The Barclays’ in Westchester Country Club, New York. The original deal ran through in 2010, and the next year, the Tour decided on an extension for another five years. The tournament was the first of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

It should be noted that Phil Mickelson also sported the Barclays logo on the right side of his polo shirt. He was one of the biggest draws at the Barclays event each year. However, they parted ways in 2017, with Mickelson moving to Intrepid Financial Partners, which, interestingly, was founded by former Barclays executive Hugh “Skip” McGee.

On the other hand, the Northern Trust succeeded Nissan as the Los Angeles event sponsor. Lefty notably played with the CEO, Rick Waddell, as recently as the 2017 Northern Trust Pro-Am. Reportedly, Waddell waited for Mickelson as his rented private jet got delayed due to fog. The Riviera event is now a Tiger Woods-hosted signature event, Genesis Invitational.

Whereas, the PGA Tour signed Shell Oil as a sponsor of its Houston event in 1992. For 25 years, the Houston stop was known as the Shell Houston Open, which Phil Mickelson won in 2011. Lefty was also a common face seen around the greens on each occasion. Interestingly, in 2011, the Tour also signed a six-year extension with the London HQ company.

From the timeline, it seems Phil Mickelson’s involvement in the sponsorship deals came under former commissioner Tim Finchem’s tenure. Jay Monahan succeeded Finchem in November of 2016. Mickelson has hinted that he tried to ‘build’ the PGA Tour even then, but Monahan torpedoed his proposals.

Mickelson refused to accept Monahan’s claim that he was the best leader to guide the PGA Tour. The 54-year-old accused Monahan of ‘strong-arming’ LIV golfers. The 45-time PGA Tour winner supported calls for Monahan’s ouster in the wake of the PGA Tour’s feud with LIV Golf. Mickelson further claimed he proposed an idea similar to the Signature events, which the Tour commissioner outrightly rejected.

The six-time major winner tweeted last year, “Before I left I brought a $1 billion commitment from a current PGATour partner to have 8 elevated events and give equity and ownership in these events to the players. JM’s quote was “ I don’t believe the league is going to happen so we won’t be doing that.” No vote, no discussion.”

It appears Mickelson wants to remind everyone that he has done whatever he could’ve for the betterment of the PGA Tour. But with Monahan at the helm, the relationship perhaps soured, and Mickelson saw an opportunity at LIV that he wanted to grab.

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Rory McIlroy’s Marriage Story Taking an Unexpected Turn as PGA Fans Floored

By
Rory McIlroy Erica Stoll Amanda Balionis

There is nothing “un-complicated” about the concept of divorce and the necessary steps it takes for one to get to the final decision of it. But rarely do you see an entire retraction of the filing…except for the famous Northern Irish PGA Pro Golfer, Rory McIlroy, in the last few weeks. What a wild ride he must be on, and just days away from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When first diving behind the complex decisions Rory has made for his heart over the years, one would almost assume the worst. Back in 2013, McIlroy, about to tie the knot to Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, had just sent out official wedding invites but to no avail. After just a 5-month engagement, Rory broke Wozniacki’s heart over a 3-minute phone call while on tour, where we can only assume cliche lines like “it’s not you, I just need to focus on my career” were given.

The tennis star was left shattered and led to believe that McIlroy wasn’t prepared for the idea of marriage, as he confirmed with US Weekly reporters at the time. However, he was suspiciously reportedly not only seeing his now-wife, Erica Stoll, just months after but was wedded to the former PGA employee in 2017.

Amanda Balionis shares cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll make Olympics statement - The Mirror US

READ: Amanda Balionis cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll spotted at Olympics

To give you a little background on the love story between the Irishman and Stoll, the two met on the PGA tour in 2012 while McIlroy was clearly still engaged to be married. Stoll, a New Yorker socialite and former PGA Manager of the Championship Volunteer Operations since 2011, found herself swept by the charm of the champion and shortly left her position after they married to travel the world with the golfer.

Though it seemed like the two couldn’t possibly find any reason to detach, as she is known to accompany the athlete on many tournaments, Stoll reportedly claimed to US Weekly recently that she “felt lonely in the marriage” and that “Rory was a hard person to be married to.” The two share a 3-year-old daughter, Poppy.

Now, one can argue that deep down Rory knew Wozniacki was not “his person,” and just simply dragged his feet on ending it with her. Honestly, not an uncommon choice made by many scared people on this planet.

However, due to recent filings, McIlroy seemed to be more of a creature of habit rather than a man with a plan. In June this year, McIlroy officially filed against wife Erica while on tour claiming the marriage was “irretrievably broken,” enforcing his prenup and requested joint custody over daughter Poppy. Just days after Mother’s Day, the filing came out of nowhere. Even worse, reports came out that he was seen getting cozy to yet another reporter, CBS personality Amanda Balionis. Stoll shared that she received papers coldly from a private investigator at their Florida home while McIlroy was away at a tournament.

While filming Netflix BTS docuseries Full Swing, in which the platform goes into the personal and professional lives of the men on the PGA, Balionis and McIlroy seemed to be getting “closer.” As Balionis is one of the main voices for the show, the two spent quite a bit of time together while filming and some reports even stated that the two were already dating as paparazzi photographed the two “hugging” on many occasions. The road for the married couple seemed ominous based on the facts, and, as we know, history tends to repeat itself…

But here’s the real kicker… despite the rumors of the two PGA love birds, the bad habits of the star and an official filing, McIlroy shocked the world with a statement on camera.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning,” said McIlroy. A notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, June 11. McIlroy chose to end the divorce plans, per documents obtained by Us Weekly, and the filing was reportedly closed out the same day.

Leading us to wonder if Rory had a change of heart for several reasons… the timing of the U.S. Open so close ahead at the time, a change of heart, their daughter’s well-being, Rory’s repetitive “bad boy” image… or all of the above?

All we know is that the two have yet to be photographed together since and we are all on pins and needles waiting to see if we will see Erica by Rory’s side representing Ireland in the 2024 Paris Olympics. McIlroy came up short at the U.S. Open without Stoll by his side, however, he was reported to have flown directly home to his wife and daughter following the loss.

Now, the question is: will his decision to continue his marriage to Erica work in the favor of Ireland in the Olympics? Only time will tell.

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“Ready for LA 2028!”: Uncertain Future Crumbles Infront of LIV Golf Jon Rahm

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Jon Rahm Paris Olympic

Many would agree with Jon Rahm. However, only a few would truly understand the Spaniard’s words when he said, “It’s basically a dream come true.” 

He was alluding to the idea of winning a gold medal at the Olympics, something he missed by four strokes. But not to worry, since the athlete seems fairly confident about his 2028 chances in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old shared a series of pictures on his Instagram handle commemorating his appearance at the quadrennial event. He did so while mentioning how grateful he was for the whole experience: “It was a tough Sunday for sure but I remain grateful for a great week in Paris. The experience of representing my native Spain in the Olympics was special and something I will never forget.” But the highlight of it all came in the last line: “Ready for LA 2028! 🇪🇸”

 

READ: Is Tiger Woods Still the Richest Pro Golfer? 2024 Net Worth Explored

He sounds confident, doesn’t he? Well, the current world No. 10 did convey the same, despite LIV Golf not getting acknowledged by the ranking system. If the trend of the OWGR snub continues, then there is a high chance for the Spanish athlete to fall down in rankings while getting pushed out of the top 15. Sounds a bit similar to Bryson DeChambeau’s situation, right?! The 2024 U.S. Open champ had also been just short of making it into the top four ranked Americans on OWGR, resulting in his snub.

But it’s not as if the confidence is completely unfounded for Jon Rahm. The Spanish golfer needs to just do his best and rake in good finishes at the major championships if the Saudi-backed league continues to be without OWGR backing. He just needs to pull off a 2024 DeChambeau, which saw the ‘Scientist’ jump from No. 210 before the Masters to No. 9 after the Open Championship.

That’s not all. With the PIF-PGA Tour merger in the works, one can even anticipate the LIV Golf Pros being able to play in Tour-sanctioned events if everything transpires smoothly. Interestingly, the Transaction Subcommittee, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy, had met with PIF officials back in June. Although the result of the same remained a delay in the proceedings, the merger seems to be very well on the cards. But all of it is for naught if Rahm fails to card the medal, like in the recent event.

The 2023 Masters champ had been at the top rungs of the leaderboard since day 1. He had even been well set at T1, that is, until a dominant Scottie Scheffler shot past him. The American’s run, coupled with Rahm’s horrid back nine, saw the 29-year-old crumble down at the end of Sunday. He carded four bogeys and a double bogey, alongside two birdies in the back nine alone. It was a truly unfortunate fourth round for the Spaniard.

The athlete, in the end, finished T5 with a score of 15-under-269, tied with McIlroy. He did so while dishing out a total of 24 birdies, 9 bogeys, 2 eagles, and 2 double bogeys over the four days of play. Had he been able to score a par putt instead of a double bogey or two of the same instead of two bogeys, then Rahm would have had a chance to force a playoff with Hideki Matsuyama for a bronze medal.

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Is Tiger Woods Still the Richest Pro Golfer? 2024 Net Worth Explored

By
Tiger Woods PGA Tour

The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Tiger Woods, is known for his jaw-dropping golfing skills.

The golfer has proven to be one of the best to ever step foot on the greens having several wins under his belt, 82 PGA Tour wins, and 15 majors to be precise. Well, being the one with the highest Tour wins is not the only accolade he has earned as a golfer. Woods is also the first billionaire golfer in history!

As per Forbes, Woods is worth a whopping 1.3 billion dollars in 2024. For the whole of his career on the PGA Tour, the golfer has earned $120,999,166 in prize money, which makes him the leader of the all-time career earnings list of the Tour. In 2022, Woods officially joined the billionaire athlete club alongside LeBron James when Forbes declared his net worth to be at least $1 billion. If that was enough to blow your mind, read this. Despite turning down a lucrative offer from LIV Golf, and we’re talking a lot of numbers here, roughly around $700 million, Woods is the richest golfer.

After major letdown, Tiger Woods confronts one tough truth

READ: ‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough Doubts

However, you’ll be surprised to know that less than 10% of Woods’s income comes from his golf wins, as most of his career earnings come from his sponsors and endorsements. The 15-time major winner’s sponsors in 2024 are Gatorade, TaylorMade, and Rolex. Nike was also on the sponsorship list until early 2024. It came as a shock to everyone when, earlier this year, Woods said goodbye to his $500 million deal with one of the most popular shoe brands in the world.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods wrote on X.  Nike in response wrote, “It was a hell of a round, Tiger.” With billions of dollars to his name, Tiger Woods certainly knows how to make smart use of his wealth, especially with the kind of businessman he is!

Tiger Woods is more than just a golf legend; he’s a successful entrepreneur and a savvy businessman. Over the past 20 years, he has expanded his brand into various ventures, including charity work, golf course design, restaurants, apparel, and other golf-related ventures like TGL and Popstroke. Established in 1996, the TGR Foundation supports children and allows them to pursue their dreams. He has also hosted several charity events, including the Tiger Jam and Hero World Challenge, to raise funds for his foundation.

Woods has also made a name for himself in golf course design. With projects like El Cardonal in Mexico and Bluejack National in Texas, TGR Designs has a bright future ahead of itself. He also has his own restaurant, The Woods Jupiter, in Florida, which opened back in 2015. His latest ventures are TGL with Rory McIlroy: a league that will go live in January 2025, T-Squared with Justin Timberlake, and Sun Day Red in collaboration with TaylorMade that has been garnering a lot of backlash for one reason or another since its launch.

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‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough Doubts

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Scottie Scheffler Olympic

‘Not Technically the Strongest Field’: Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic Gold Not Enough to Eliminate LPGA Champ’s Doubts About Controversial Format

The men’s Olympic golf event in Paris has ended, with Scottie Scheffler standing tall atop the podium, a gold medal around his neck. Yet as the dust settles, some questions are beginning to arise about the Olympics stroke play format. Is golf’s traditional format fit for the Olympic stage? LPGA golfer Jenny Shin ignited a fierce debate on social media with her bold and provocative proposal.

Jenny Shin, the LPGA star, shared her unvarnished viewpoint on her X handle. Shin’s comments suggest the current Olympic format may not be the most engaging. The traditional 4-day individual stroke play, used in most professional golf tournaments, might not be the best fit for the Olympics.

Olympic gold in hand, Scottie Scheffler says emotional display isn't as rare as we thought

READ: :Allow the countries to pick themselves”: Jon Rahm wants Olympic chiefs to make key change after LIV Golf stars snubbed

The Rolex Rankings No. 48, wrote, “Not my idea, however, I wonder how fun it would be if golf in Olympics was a different format than its regular 4-day event. 2-person team play, men & women team play from each country. After all, it’s not technically the strongest field compared to every other tournament they play.” Her post sparked a lively discussion on the future of Olympic golf, with many weighing in on her suggestion.

Moreover, Shin also believes that golf could benefit from a more collaborative and inclusive approach if a team-based or similar format is included in the Olympics. The results of this approach could potentially lead to more competitive, exciting, and unpredictable outcomes.

For those unfamiliar with the current format, the stroke play format means that the player with the fewest total number of shots after four days and 72 holes wins. The no-cut format, however, may not be the most fitting for the Olympic stage, according to the 31-year-old. Notably, it is similar to the LIV Golf format, which features a 54-hole format and is a day shorter, or like other alternative formats that could potentially, be explored.

But is Jenny Shin the only one who wonders about a different format for the quadrennial event?

Jenny Shin voiced the fans demanding a change

The golf community has been echoing similar sentiments for quite some time. When golf returned to the Olympics in 2016, many were thrilled, but some critics pointed out that the format didn’t provide a suitable platform for the sport. It is criticized for being ‘Boring’ and predictable, with many calling for a change.

Building on the momentum, fans and golf enthusiasts demand a change. They suggest alternative formats like stroke play and match play or team competitions. Furthermore, with the Olympics holding the authority to innovate, the golf community expects a more exciting and unpredictable format for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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Charlie Woods bounces back from US Junior Amateur nightmare to win first ‘major’ title

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Charlie Woods Tiger Woods US Junior Amateur

Charlie Woods got his hands on his first ‘major’ victory earlier this week, after the son of the great Tiger Woods won the South Florida Junior Cup.

Woods Jr shot rounds of 73, 68, 73 to ensure he was the only player under-par throughout the tournament at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course. This proved enough to crown him as the tournament winner, with the title one of the eight major events on the South Florida Junior Tour schedule.

“I wanted it so bad,” said the youngster in the aftermath. “I felt focused, and I knew what I had to do to get it done. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.”

Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, qualifies top for US Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills | Golf | The Guardian

READ: Amanda Balionis cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll spotted at Olympics

“I feel like it was a compilation of a lot of hard work this summer. I wanted to redeem myself, and I feel great about how I played.” His victory came just a week after he endured a tough time at the US Junior Amateur, as he missed the cut with his dad watching on.

Tiger himself had been in action a week prior, making just his fifth start of the season at The Open Championship. He too fell to the same fate as his son, as Woods missed the cut for the third time in four events, after battling in tough conditions at Royal Troon.

Woods is playing a part-time schedule on the PGA Tour, as he continues to battle a number of fitness issues on the back of injuries sustained in a car accident back in February 2021. Outside of the four majors, Woods has played just one regular Tour event this year; the Genesis Invitational in February.

This too ended prematurely though, as Woods was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness partway through the second round. And his missed cut at The Open in July brought a curtain down on his competitive season, after he announced he would be taking a break from action.

As a result, he confirmed in the aftermath of his missed cut that his next PGA Tour start will come in December when he hosts the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “I’m not going to play until then [the Hero World Challenge],” Woods said. I’m going to just keep getting physically better and keep working on it.”

He did however confirm that he also plans to compete in this year’s PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie, which comes in the aftermath of the Hero. “Hopefully just come back for our, what is it, our fifth major, the Father/Son [PNC Championship], so looking forward to it.”

The Woods duo have competed in the last three editions of the parent-child event at the Ritz Carlton in Florida, with their best finish coming back in 2021 when the pair ended the 54-hole tournament in second, two shots behind eventual winners John Daly and John Daly Jr.

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Amanda Balionis’ cryptic message after Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll spotted at Olympics

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Amanda Balionis Rory McIlroy Erica Stoll

Golf reporter Amanda Balionis has shared a cryptic Instagram post about connecting with people after Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were spotted enjoying time together at the Olympics.

McIlroy and his wife are currently in Paris, where the 35-year-old is representing Ireland in the Olympic golf event at Le Golf National, alongside Shane Lowry. The couple have been spotted enjoying the Olympic action, watching Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in tennis action against Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

The four-time major winner and his wife have recently made headlines after McIlroy announced they were divorcing, only to later call off the proceedings as the couple give their relationship another shot. In the lead up to the U. S. Open, McIlroy’s personal life was thrust into the spotlight when he discussed his divorce plans, amidst rumours of a romantic link with Balionis. Speculation grew as the pair shared a jovial interview, as Balionis was seen without her wedding ring. However, any rumours were put to bed when McIlroy and Stoll halted their divorce proceedings.

Amanda Balionis jets off to Scotland for awkward reunion with Rory McIlroy - and his wife Erica Stoll | Daily Mail Online

READ: Why Tiger Woods Isn’t Playing In The Olympics

Since then, Balionis has posted several cryptic messages on Instagram, leading some to believe there may be a hidden meaning related to McIlroy. Her latest post, a collection of July highlights, includes a message about connecting through humour and enjoying laughter with others.

“Cherish the gift of humor. Life doesn’t need to be so gloomy. Spirituality doesn’t need to be so serious and somber. Work doesn’t need to be that way either. Learn to see the humor in life. Look for it. Find it. Enjoy it. Surround yourself with people who like to laugh,” the post read.

“Being around people who laugh can open us up to the power of humor in our own lives. Laughter can become contagious. There I something magnetic, something healing, about being around people who let themselves laugh often.”

Amanda Balionis  Amanda Balionis Instagram post message

McIlroy opened up about the swirling rumours concerning his private life in the build-up to his disappointing performance at Pinehurst No. 2, where he lost out to Bryson DeChambeau after bogeying three of the final four holes. But he steered clear of delving into specifics regarding his relationships.

“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy remarked. “Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

McIlroy wrapped up the first round of the Olympic tournament tied for sixteenth place at three-under-par. Meanwhile, The Open champion Xander Schauffele is vying to retain his gold medal, finishing the first round tied for second on six-under-par. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is out in front, leading into the second round on eight-under-par.

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Why Tiger Woods Isn’t Playing In The Olympics

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Tiger Woods Olympics

Tiger Woods has achieved almost everything in his career, but there’s one big omission – here’s why he’s not playing in the Olympics, and never has…

There’s very little Tiger Woods hasn’t achieved in his career, but there is one glaring omission from his incredible resume – he has yet to make an appearance in the Olympics, and he’s not at Paris 2024, either. But why is that?

Because the qualifying criteria is based on the Official World Golf Ranking, Woods didn’t get close to making Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. However, while he never looked like forcing his way into contention throughout the two-year qualifying period, he has been unlucky to miss out at other times in his career.

Will Tiger Woods qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo?

READ: “Allow the countries to pick themselves”: Jon Rahm wants Olympic chiefs to make key change after LIV Golf stars snubbed

Golf only returned to the Olympics schedule in 2016 after a 112-year hiatus. Had it been part of the Games in previous editions, there is no doubt whatsoever that Woods would have played a big part for Team USA given his dominance in the earlier part of his career.

Incredibly, between 18 May 1997 and 27 February 2011, Woods was never lower than third in the world rankings. That would have made him a shoo-in for the Olympics had golf been held in the three editions the period encompassed. He’d have almost certainly made it to the 2012 London Olympics, too, had golf been held there, given he spent months leading to the Games within the world’s top four.

While golf didn’t return to the Olympics until four years later, in Rio de Janeiro, by then, injuries had begun to take their toll on his ranking. In particular, back surgery that sidelined him for almost all of 2016 scuppered arguably his best chance of making an appearance.

There has certainly been no lack of desire on Woods’ part to appear at an Olympics, although, before the 2019 US Open, he admitted age was catching up with him.

Speaking about making it to the 2020 games in Tokyo, he said: “Olympic gold medal would be a hell of a feat. First I need to qualify. It would be exciting if I got a chance to represent the United States in the Olympic Games.

“I don’t know how many more times I get a run at it. Next time I’ll be 48. So it’s… I don’t have that many chances of playing for the United States in the Olympics. So it will certainly be an honor if I were able to represent the United States.”

Woods certainly appeared primed for an appearance as the new decade began. In January 2020. Helped by his 15th Major win at The Masters the previous April, Woods was seventh in the world needing to overtake one of Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Cantlay in the world rankings by 22 June to confirm his place as one of the top four Americans.

Then, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, postponing the games for a year and delaying the qualifying cut-off until 21 June 2021. In January that year, it was announced that Woods had undergone microdiscectomy surgery to remove a bone fragment that pinched a nerve, which all but ended his chances.

The following month, he was involved in a single-car accident that badly damaged his right leg and threatened the end of his career. At that point, any lingering hopes he may somehow make the team were stopped in their tracks, and he has struggled to recover his best form ever since returning a year later at The Masters.

With the cut-off for qualification for the 2024 Olympics coming immediately after the US Open at Pinehurst No.2, Woods was far away from where he needed to be to make the team, standing 842nd when, ultimately, only a place in the top seven would do.

Fans have learned over the years that you write off Woods at your peril, particularly when he has a point to prove, so it would be unwise to completely dismiss his chances of making the team for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 just yet. However, that would take an extraordinary effort, even by his own incredible standards.

While time will tell how competitive Woods is when the qualifying period begins for the next Games, for now, it is possibly safer to assume that, where Woods and the Olympics are concerned, it might ultimately be a case of “not meant to be.”

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“Allow the countries to pick themselves”: Jon Rahm wants Olympic chiefs to make key change after LIV Golf stars snubbed

By
Jon Rahm PARIS OLYMPICS

Jon Rahm has called for a shake-up in the Olympic qualifying criteria after several of his LIV Golf colleagues, including Bryson DeChambeau, were left out of this year’s tournament.

Rahm, 29, will fly the flag for Spain at Le Golf National in Paris as the tournament kicks off on Thursday. He’ll be joined by fellow LIV Golf star David Puig, but many of their peers on the breakaway tour will be forced to sit it out.

DeChambeau, the current US Open champion, is the most high-profile player missing from the action in Paris. The US has dispatched a team of four to the Olympics – Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa – all of whom ended the qualifying period in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

Jon Rahm Bags 2024 LIV Golf UK Win in Lead up to Paris Olympics

READ: Loyalty Under Scrutiny: Bawling Jon Rahm Not Enough to Clear Doubts as His Loyalty to LIV Golf Remains Under Scrutiny

The OWGR forms the basis of the qualification route to the games, but LIV is not recognised by the body and its players do not earn ranking points for their performances on the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit. Its members have seen their rankings tumble since the breakaway league was launched in 2022, resulting in DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and others missing out on a spot in Paris.

Rahm argues that the decision-making power should be given to the competing nations to choose their players, rather than the OWGR. He also suggested that team golf should be included in future Olympics.

“Allow the countries to pick themselves,” Rahm stated during his pre-tournament press conference. “There needs to be some guidelines, but Team USA basketball has freedom to choose whoever they want. I understand it’s a different circumstance, but I think you need to let each country choose who they want to play, and in the future, I would also like to see some team aspect in the Olympics, as well, right.

“I mean, we are here representing Spain, so I would love to be able to represent Spain, as a partner or somehow, whether as a combined sport or us playing together. That would be extremely nice to share the stage with another player, to do something different, to maybe what we do every other day, right.”

Rahm is heading to Le Golf National brimming with confidence after clinching his first LIV Golf title at the weekend, outlasting Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton and Smith to finish top of the leaderboard at JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire, England. Despite having high hopes of competing for the gold medal, he believes the quality of the event is diminished by the qualifying process.

“You want the best players to be able to participate,” Rahm added. “Any tournament, you want the best players possible to be representing their country. That’s all I can say. I really don’t know how else to frame it. “”Obviously the qualifying criteria might need to change but that is a job for the people that are a lot more knowledgeable on things like that.”

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Rory McIlroy’s brilliant comeback to hecklers as he prepares for Olympics

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Rory McIlroy Paris Olympics

Rory McIlroy is currently preparing for the Paris Olympics, but he still managed to find the time to dish out some Ryder Cup smack talk to one rowdy American fan.

On Monday, McIlroy played a casual round at The Old Course at St Andrews, where he was seen hitting blistering tee shots on holes 12 and 16. While walking the historic course, the 35-year-old briefly stopped to engage in playful banter with the reported 100-200 people that congregated to watch him play.

In one clip posted to social media, an especially energetic fan can be heard shouting at McIlroy: “New York loves you, the Bronx baby, the Bronx.” In response to the overzealous attendee, the Northern Irishman hilariously quipped, “You’re not gonna love us next year!” in reference to the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy has a fever and the only prescription is more Olympic Games | OffTheBall

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Back in 2023, Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup with a 16.5 to 11.5 win, but the thrilling victory wasn’t without its hiccups. On the heels of the final hole being played at Marco Simone Golf Club, McIlroy and longtime caddie Joe LaCava got into a verbal spat on the green, with the altercation carrying over into the parking lot after the former took issue with the latter’s celebratory antics.

McIlroy’s heated confrontation with LaCava and subsequent shouting match with Jim “Bones” Mackay ultimately became rallying points for he and his European teammates.

Discussing the fallout from the incident at the hotel, McIlroy told the Irish Independent: “Then [European captain] Luke [Donald] comes in and sits down and doesn’t acknowledge anyone. And he looks at me and I’m thinking, ‘I could be in trouble here,’ but he goes, ‘Rory! I ——- loved that!’

“And all the boys started banging the table. It was brilliant. It had been a really deflating finish, but it galvanized the team.”

McIlroy still has quite some time before he’ll be able to represent Team Europe again in the Ryder Cup, with the next edition not taking place until September 2025. But the world No. 3 golfer doesn’t have to wait long to represent Ireland at the Olympics men’s tournament, which kicks off on Thursday at Le Golf National.

At the Tokyo Games back in 2021, McIlroy fell just short of finishing on the podium, losing to C.T. Pan in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal. American Xander Schauffele took home gold in Japan, while Rory Sabbatini earned silver.

Three years later, McIlroy divulged that he relishes the opportunity to represent Ireland as opposed to Great Britain in the Olympics.

“As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision,” he said. “The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that’s Ireland.”

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