Jon Rahm, the Masters champion, has pulled out of appearing in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory’s inaugural season of The Golf League.
Rahm said in a Twitter post: ‘I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season.
‘While I still think it’s a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment that I can’t offer. Best of luck to everyone envolved (sic) and may the best team win!’.
Rahm has been scrubbed from all the promotions for the venture, which starts in January 2024. Play is set to start on Jan. 9, with the ESPN networks showing the action over 15 regular-season matches, plus the semifinals and finals.
There has been an immense amount of positivity around the idea of Woods and McIlroy and the withdrawal of Rahm is the first real setback it has faced.
Masters champion Jon Rahm has pulled out of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s Golf League
The news is a blow for McIlroy and Woods, with the league launching in only two months
But it still has a string of elite names competing, with major winners such as Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Keegan Bradley and Shane Lowry lined up.
Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta have all got franchises representing those areas and a sixth is still to be announced. There are a string of high-profile investors too.
John Henry, Tom Werner, and Fenway Sports Group – who own the Red Sox, Liverpool FC and the Pittsburgh Penguins – have backed the Boston team.
Serena Williams, alongside Alexis Ohanian and sister Venus, is involved in the LA team and Mets owner Steven A. Cohen is behind the New York franchise.
The competition will be held every Monday at the SoFi Center in Florida, spanning 15 regular season matches, a semifinal and final.