Ryder Cup star calls BS on Jon Rahm, LIV defectors: “They personal you”

Shane Lowry is sick and bored with listening to gamers bolting to LIV Golf for the sake of ‘rising the sport.’

Within the wake of Jon Rahm’s departure to the Saudi-backed tour, the European Ryder Cup star revealed his true emotions in regards to the state {of professional} golf with The Irish Impartial.

“I feel what [Rahm] mentioned about rising the sport and stuff. That’s clearly what they should say,” Lowry mentioned.

“They’ve signed on the dotted line. They’ve been advised by the [LIV Golf] communications group that that is what you say while you’re requested this, and you haven’t any different alternative often because they personal you now.”

Lowry’s feedback about ‘proudly owning you now’ come every week after Rahm made a public look in his native Spain. The 2-time main champion admitted to being “below very strict directions to not do public occasions,” in response to Reuters.

LIV Golf’s beneficiary is the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia allegedly forbids freedom of the press and controls the media. Therefore the notion of Lowry saying that LIV Golf ‘owns you now.’ Freedom Home, a non-profit advocacy group that helps world democracy, gave Saudi Arabia a 7/100 rating on its ‘Freedom Scale,’ which measures the political freedom a rustic’s residents have.

“Clearly, the previous two years, there’s been numerous evolving within the sport of golf; issues have modified rather a lot, and so have I,” Rahm mentioned within the wake of his announcement.

Picture by David Cannon/Getty Pictures

“Seeing the expansion of LIV Golf, seeing the evolution of LIV Golf and innovation is one thing that has actually captured my consideration. I feel the expansion that I’ve seen and the way it’s grow to be a worldwide enterprise, proper, and the way we will impression golf globally, and in a a lot significant method, is one thing that’s been very attractive.”

These feedback from Rahm on Dec. 7 elicited Lowry to make the feedback he did.

However the Irishman continued to supply perspective on the present state {of professional} golf.

“I don’t know if [LIV Golf] has been dama,ging however individuals who have spent their hard-earned cash, [who go] out to affix a golf membership, and purchase golf golf equipment and play golf for the weekend, it’s robust for them to take heed to the man who’s already price no matter say he has to do that to place meals on the desk for his spouse and children,” Lowry mentioned.

Picture by David Davies/Getty Pictures

But, regardless of these remarks, Lowry nonetheless feels Rahm ought to play on the Ryder Cup group. In any case, the Europeans will want Rahm in 2025, when Bethpage Black awaits them.

“I’m certain [Rahm] can play properly sufficient to make the group,” Lowry mentioned.

“So if he doesn’t resign his [DP World Tour] membership, he can nonetheless make the group.”

Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood resigned their DP World Tour memberships to affix LIV Golf. That forbade them from representing Workforce Europe.

So, too, did Henrik Stenson, who was chosen to captain the 2023 group. However after he joined LIV Golf, the DP World Tour changed him with Luke Donald, who will lead the Europeans as soon as once more at Bethpage.

However, on the finish of the day, Lowry is most involved about himself, his household, and his play.

“I simply fear about my very own sport,” the 2019 Open Champion mentioned.

“I try to win the most effective tournaments I can and compete in the most effective ones I can, and that’s actually it.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.