Jon Rahm Has One Issue With 'Signature Events' and One Unusual Wish If He Were Boss
Jon Rahm reiterated his support for Jay Monahan on Tuesday, saying that the PGA Tour commissioner deserves to see through the "framework agreement" that needs to be negotiated fully with the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
But the reigning Masters champion did express some displeasure at one of the entry points to the "Signature Events" for 2024 that were officially announced on Monday.
Sponsor exemptions.
Rahm is No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings (and No. 2 in the SI World Golf Rankings) heading into the first of three playoff events starting this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., where the FedEx St. Jude Championship begins on Thursday.
“I voiced this when it came up," Rahm said of the eight events that will have limited fields, five of which will not have a 36-hole cut. “I wasn't in favor of those tournaments having invites or exemptions, however you want to call it. Everybody that's playing has earned it one way or another. You just don't want it to go to somebody who just—for whatever reason, they liked."
The Signature events—the Sentry, AT&T Pebble Beach, Genesis, Arnold Palmer, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo, Memorial and Travelers—will have approximately 80-player fields.
They will be comprised of the top 50 from this year’s final FedEx Cup points list; anyone who is in the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the time; PGA Tour winners in 2024, 15 players that will come from two different FedEx points lists; and four sponsor invites.
“As a person who got his PGA Tour card through PGA Tour exemptions, you want them to go to the right person," Rahm said.
“I'm hoping those events realize the position they're in and give it to people that truly, truly can do something out of it. There is a way for players not into those events to somehow qualify into those events, so I'm hoping they use some of those to people who were close and didn't quite make it, players that have earned it throughout their play in the past. Just hope they use them in a way that it can be meaningful for somebody for the year or their career in golf."
Rahm, in advance of a player meeting with Monahan on Tuesday night, said again he is backing the commissioner to see through the various issues that face the Tour.
“I think I made my stance on that at the Open clear. I think he should have the opportunity right now to finish this off the way he did," Rahm said. “I think we're quickly forgetting how well he managed a lot of things. He did an amazing job in COVID and kept a lot of people employed. We were the first major sport to come back. I know UFC was doing fights, but we were the major sport to come back.
“A lot of players were able to earn their cards and keep competing thanks to that. I think we shouldn't forget that that quickly. Again, we should give him the chance to see this through.
“Then after everything is said and done, if players want to make a change, then that would be a better time, but right now I don't think it is."
Asked if he had the opportunity to make one change at the Tour, Rahm said his priorities were lower "than people think" and then offered up a rather interesting request.
“I know this is going to sound very stupid, but as simple as having a freaking Port-a-Potty on every hole—I know it sounds crazy, but I can't choose when I have to go to the bathroom,’’ Rahm said. “I've told the Tour this many times, as simple as that.
“Just simple little things better for the Tour. Even though they do a phenomenal job throughout the year, just making it more consistent."