Jon Rahm’s much-anticipated leap to LIV Golf got here “quicker” than the Spaniard anticipated, and he mentioned Thursday that the choice was “best for me and my family.”

Rahm spoke to a choose group of reporters by way of convention name from New York City on Thursday, about an hour earlier than LIV Golf formally introduced the reigning Masters champion because the league’s latest star.

Although he declined to offer specifics on his cope with the league, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, he mentioned cash was “one of the reasons” he joined and defined that his determination to go away the Tour was primarily made “today.” Reports have estimated the deal greater than $300 million.

“I’m very comfortable with my decision,” Rahm mentioned. “I’m no stranger to hearing some negative things on social media or in media. It’s part of what it is, we’re public figures but you just learn to deal with it right? This certainly won’t define who I am or change who I am.”

The world’s third-ranked participant additionally confirmed that he will probably be a captain of a brand new staff, bringing the league’s whole to 13 groups and 52 gamers. He wouldn’t touch upon who will probably be on his staff. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he mentioned. Rahm will compete within the first occasion of the 2024 season, Feb. 2-4, at LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico.

Rahm mentioned the Ryder Cup, which isn’t open to gamers who joined LIV underneath present DP World Tour rules, was the most important hurdle he weighed earlier than becoming a member of the rival league. He additionally mentioned he hasn’t had an opportunity to talk with Luke Donald, this 12 months’s and the 2025 European Ryder Cup captain, about his determination.

Rahm went 2-0-2 for Europe earlier this 12 months in Rome and though he’d declared his “fealty” to the Tour in early 2022, he lobbied for LIV gamers, most notably Sergio Garcia, to be included on this 12 months’s matches.

Rahm additionally mentioned he hadn’t spoken to Phil Mickelson about his determination. Mickelson was among the many first to affix LIV and each gamers are represented by the identical administration agency.

Speculation that Rahm was poised to affix LIV Golf had inbuilt current days, main many to see the transfer as a leverage play by PIF in its ongoing negotiations with the Tour. Signing a high-profile participant like Rahm, in addition to the potential of three different gamers for his staff, would ship a transparent message to the Tour that PIF and LIV Golf had been right here to remain. Rahm mentioned his determination to affix LIV was “separate from those negotiations” and his job was “to play golf.”

“I just hope whatever is happening behind those closed doors [the Tour and PIF negotiations] is best for all of us,” Rahm mentioned.

On Monday, the Tour introduced Rahm as one among 5 candidates for this 12 months’s Player of the Year Award. He had 4 victories this season, together with the Masters. The 4 different candidates are Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy.