As talks with the PGA-LIV merger continue, more players are looking forward to a reunion with each other. PGA Tour player Scottie Scheffler has admitted that there is one player that he misses playing against. A fellow Masters champion and a friendly rival during the Ryder Cup. Jon Rahm, a golfer from Spain who played on the PGA and is now on LIV Golf.
Scheffler and Rahm’s History
Sheffler and Rahm have played against each other a number of times throughout their PGA careers. They are both known for their Masters victories and Rahm is known as a former world no. 1. A title he lost after joining LIV Golf, and that Scheffler has since picked up. Scheffler even received his green jacket from Rahm in 2023.
Scottie Scheffler was asked in a pre-masters call with reporters if he missed playing against Rahm and he responded unambiguously. “Yeah, I definitely do,” said Scheffler. “One of the great joyous of my career is going up against Jon. He’s a tremendous player, tremendous talent.”
Like with most other players who jumped ship in favor of LIV, Scheffler was not expecting the change. “I was definitely surprised to see him leave last year and I for sure miss playing against him. We had some great battles over the years.”
Scheffler has a great amount of respect for Jon Rahm despite him leaving for LIV. Competition wise he sees Rahm as an equal in match. “We had some great battles in the Ryder Cup. I think we’ve halved most of our matches in the Ryder Cup, Jon and I have. I think we might be dead even, I’m not sure exactly, but I feel like we’ve played five or six times.”
Rahm’s similar skill level to Scheffler’s makes for an interesting match, as the two are often neck and neck. Scheffler sees Rahm as a great challenge in any match they are both in and seems to have a lot of fun during those matches. “Maybe we’ve played five times and halved three of them, and I’ve won one and he’s won one. We’ve played a lot in the last two Ryder Cups, and he’s a great guy to compete against.”
Scheffler may miss playing against Rahm on the PGA Tour, but he still has plenty of potential friendly rivals. He still thinks of those players as being highly skilled. He goes on to say how much he wishes the players who left stayed but he acknowledges that they made their decisions. This is the man who says that LIV Golf “split the game.” He has stated that he believes that the players who jumped did so for financial reasons. It is no secret that LIV Golf paid out massive contracts for its golfers. A move that has been one reason the league struggles to make a profit.
Scheffler Remaining Optimistic
Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm had a great rivalry while it lasted, and unless the PGA-LIV merger goes through, they won’t be able to play together like they used to. For now though despite losing players, Scheffler is content with sticking by PGA. He believes in this long-standing league, and won’t let this hiccup get in the way of him enjoying the sport.
“I still think the PGA Tour has by far the best players in the world. The depth of our fields and the competition that we have is still hands down the best competition that there is in the game of golf. That’s why I’m still playing on the Tour, I love the competition.”
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