Sky Sports pundit and 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes Jon Rahm is desperate for a deal to be struck between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's PIF amid his struggles in LIV Golf .
The Spaniard, a two-time major winner, became the latest high-profile golf star to jump ship for the obscene riches on offer from the Middle Eastern breakaway Tour late last year. However, he hasn't won a golf tournament since .
McGinley says Rahm looks a shadow of his former self at the minute, and he believes the 29-year-old is one of LIV Golf 's stars hoping for a merger deal to be struck. "Jon Rahm is just not on the cutting edge like he was, and his performances in the majors this year have shown that,” McGinley told reporters, according to the Irish Independent .
"I don't think he's in a happy place, he doesn't look content on the course,” McGinley added . "When he's got that focus about him like he did last year when he was on that strong run, you could see he was relishing and enjoying the challenge. He just doesn't seem settled.
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"Jon is such a great player, but he is hitting a lot of bad shots. The intensity, that positive intensity he normally brings just doesn't seem to be there. I would say he's one of those guys on LIV that is really hoping for a deal. I think he would have liked to have played in Scotland last week rather than Valderrama by choice.
"That's the problem. You go to LIV, sign away your freedom to pick and choose where you play. Okay, you get paid a lot of money, but you give up a lot too. In the middle of your career, you want to be preparing [for the majors] and you don't have a choice on where to play.
"I'm sure Jon would have much preferred to play the Scottish Open last week. He's a guy that's won a couple of Irish Opens on links courses, so he's played really well on those courses. I have to question whether he is on the cutting edge and whether his preparation is really ready to go this week."
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Despite being winless in LIV Golf, Rahm has found himself second in the Tour's individual standings. His fellow compatriot, Sergio Garcia , is hot on his heels, though, following a win on home soil in Andalucia .
The victory on home soil pushed Garcia into third in LIV Golf's individual standings, one behind position behind Rahm by just 1.93 points. Garcia is also 42.16 points behind leader Joaquin Niemann.
Rahm hasn't had much luck in majors this year either, barely making the cut at the Masters, followed by missing the cut at the PGA Championship. He also didn't even get to play in the U.S. Open because of a foot infection.
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