Shane Lowry becomes first Ryder Cup teammate to publicly question Jon Rahm after LIV Golf switch
Shane Lowry has become the first Ryder Cup teammate to question Jon Rahm after the Masters champion signed with LIV Golf.
The Spaniard has signed for the Saudi-backed tour after being offered a reported £450million contract.
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Rahm claims the opportunity to 'grow the game' was a key reason behind the money-spinning switch but conceded that the finances on offer also played a part.
It was a remarkable U-turn from the 29-year-old, who had repeatedly dismissed LIV Golf and its money as something that did not interest him.
Fellow Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy and Victor Hovland refused to criticise Rahm's decision amid fears over his Team Europe future.
But Rahm's teammate Lowry has publicly admitted he was not impressed with the world no.3's explanation for joining LIV.
"I think what Jon said about growing the game and stuff that’s obviously what they have to say,” Lowry told the .
“They’ve signed on the dotted line," he added. "They’ve been told by the communications team that this is what you say when you’re asked this and you have no other choice really because they own you now.”
He added: “I don’t know if it’s been damaging (to golf’s image) but people who have spent their hard-earned money going out to join a golf club and buy golf clubs and play golf for the weekend, it’s tough for them to listen to the guy who’s already worth whatever say he has to do this to put food on the table for his wife and kids.”
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Asked if he was surprised to see his Ryder Cup teammate leave the PGA Tour, Lowry replied: "It had been rumoured for a while so there's no smoke without fire, is there?
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"We weren't too surprised in the end, but I'm not surprised by anything that happens at the minute."
Upon signing the historic deal, Rahm confirmed the offer was accepted with his family in mind.
Rahm said: “Every decision I feel like we make in life there will be somebody who agrees and likes it and somebody who doesn’t, right.
“I made this decision because I believe it’s the best for me and my family and everybody I’ve been able to talk to has been really supportive of me, so I’m very comfortable with my decision."
"I don’t know if it’s been damaging [to golf]," he added. "But people who have spent their hard-earned money going out to join a golf club and buy golf clubs and play golf for the weekend, it’s tough for them to listen to the guy who’s already worth whatever say he has to do this to put food on the table for his wife and kids.”
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