What is being experienced in recent days in the world of golf, especially after the bombshell that was the official announcement of Jon Rahm‘s departure to LIV Golf, is more akin to that moment when the transfer market of any football league is about to close than to what we are used to experiencing in the sport of clubs. Similarities that are faithfully reflected in the development of negotiations as certain and intense as they are complex.
As Ten-Golf revealed last week, when the one from Barrika gave the green light to his landing on the Saudi tour, he put several names on the table as possible adventure companions in what will be his team. One of them, that of Tony Finau, put the PGA Tour on alert, aware that continuing to lose stars could end up causing irreparable damage to its competition. And today, we have breakfast with a post from the golfer from Utah with two possible interpretations.
On his Instagram profile, Finau shares a photo with the following phrases: “The 2023 season is already written! It was a special and incredible campaign, where I achieved in Mexico my sixth victory on the PGA Tour. Another highlight was reaching the Champions Tour for the seventh consecutive year. As the year comes to an end, I am grateful to enjoy the sport I love and have the opportunity to compete at the highest level. I am excited about 2024 and looking forward to playing my 10th season on the PGA Tour. And excited to defend the title both in Mexico and in Houston! Thanks to my sponsors for their continued support and to the fans for all the love to our family. See you in Maui!”.
His strong statements seem to indicate that the decision to continue on the PGA Tour next season, which he dodged in front of the media last week when he was in full negotiations with LIV Golf is taken. Although, as happens in the world of football, it is advisable not to rule out the possibility that it is only a negotiation strategy, because until this past weekend, the conversations between both parties were still ongoing.
Finau points in his message to what would be his 10th season on the American circuit, to the tournaments in which he would defend the title and to a very specific date, that of the first event of 2024, the famous champions tournament, in Maui, a key date to know if these statements mean a definitive slam to LIV Golf or if the negotiations are not yet broken and can be redirected. Less than a month ahead to discover it… while the spotlight moves to the rest of the names that could accompany Jon on his adventure (Tyrrell Hatton, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman and Nicolai Hojgaard).
