LIV Golf's Jon Rahm Is Rooting for a Fellow Arizonan in the Super Bowl
This is the latest in a series of articles about how golf is the common thread of nearly every big event in Las Vegas, the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.
When Jon Rahm and his mates from Team Legion XIII strolled to the four microphones in the press area on Tuesday, it marked the official start to LIV Golf at the iconic Las Vegas Country Club. Some of the world’s best golfers are here, but you may have also heard about another sporting event being played in Las Vegas this weekend.
Just don’t expect much info or knowledge about the Big Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers from Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Kieran Vincent or Caleb Surratt.
“It won't surprise you to hear that I know nothing about American football,” said Hatton, who hails from England. “I will say the Chiefs will win, but that prediction has no force behind it, and I will not be going to any Super Bowl parties.”
Jon Rahm has played golf with Patrick Mahomes but said his rooting interest lies with San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy
Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images
Captain Rahm echoed Hatton’s thoughts, but added a little more depth to what it will be like playing in a golf tournament while a city around him goes football crazy.
“I don't think I'm going to be doing any events outside because we are here competing, so it's a little hard to do other stuff,” Rahm said. “If anything, it would be Saturday night or Sunday, whoever chooses to stay. It is going to be complicated to move around Vegas this week. It's a hard guess (who will win). Like everybody, I hope it is a good game.”
When pressed a bit, Rahm, who lives in the Phoenix area, gave a nod to the 49ers.
“I have gotten to meet and play golf with Patrick Mahomes a couple times, and I always love to see greatness in any sport,” Rahm said. “But just because he is an Arizona guy, and for how overlooked it seems like he has been for his whole career, I would love to see (49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy do well. I think the 49ers have a good chance of getting it done, so I would like to see them win. No offense to anybody else on the other team, it is just because Purdy is an Arizona guy. It seems like that would be an amazing ending to this year based on how he started in the NFL.”
Fresh off of having difficulty checking into his hotel room because he is under 21, former college golf sensation Surratt revealed how he understands his place within Legion XIII and LIV Golf. And shared how he will be experiencing Las Vegas this week.
“I'm told where to be and when to be there, and I don't know the first thing about what's going on,” Surratt said.
LIV Golf begins Thursday at The Las Vegas Country Club and ends Saturday—the day before the Super Bowl. Legion XIII is coming off a team victory at the Mayakoba event last weekend in its debut
In addition to LIV Golf, there are several other celebrity golf tournaments around Vegas. Last week, the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee Ambassadors hosted an event at Southern Highlands that featured NFL Hall of Fame lineman Jonathan Ogden, among others. Thursday, the Sports Illustrated Invitational will be played at TPC Las Vegas featuring Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby and social-media personality and former pro golfer Paige Spiranac.
Brian Hurlburt is the founder of www.LasVegasGolfInsider.com and can be followed @lasvegasgolfinsider on social media. As the author of "The Las Vegas Country Club: Chronicle of an Icon," he is consulting with the LIV Golf Las Vegas event to help paint the picture of the club’s history.
