Oberholser, now a television commentator, fired his criticism at the Basque athlete for his words: “You have won 500 grand and you say that you feel like a member of the PGA Tour”.
Last December, Jon Rahm was suspended by the PGA Tour after the Spanish golfer reached an agreement with LIV Golf, the Saudi-owned circuit, with which he has signed a contract worth more than 500 million dollars . Thus, the PGA Tour complied with the formality by notifying the player of his suspension for “his association with unauthorized tournaments.”
Last week Rahm surprised everyone with his words
However, last week Rahm surprised everyone with his words . ” I still want to support the PGA Tour, I’m still a member. I don’t think I’m on the other side, I just don’t play there. Even though I’m playing in LIV, if I had been allowed I would have played some (PGA) tournaments at the beginning of the year. And if I’m allowed and there’s no conflict in the calendar, I would play in the future,” explained the golfer from Barrika.
Jon Rahm’s comments have upset some members of the PGA Tour , as well as other former golfers. Among them is former player Arron Oberholser, now a commentator on The Golf Channel . “You’re going to tell me you still feel like a member of the PGA Tour? I want to wring his neck through the television, I’m that angry right now. I’m outraged,” Oberholser exclaimed.
The PGA Tour suspended Jon Rahm, who left for LIV Golf, back in December.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 14, 2024
On Tuesday, Rahm addressed the media at the 2024 PGA Championship, dispelled the idea that he's "on the other side," and claimed he's both still a member and still wants to support the PGA Tour.… pic.twitter.com/YOHQvM7vQt
“Everyone should be outraged”
After hearing Rahm speak , Oberholser, winner of the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and fourth place finisher at the 2007 PGA Championship, erupted: “I’m outraged. You’ve taken 500 grand (referring to millions of euros) and you’re going to sit there and say you still feel like a member of the PGA Tour … Every player in that PGA Tour locker room should be absolutely outraged with him.”
“To this day, he doesn’t get it. This is a guy who wanted a position or wanted to be heard, from what I understand. Whether it was a board position or a policy board position, he wanted to be heard on this whole issue before he went to LIV. And I feel like he wasn’t heard as much as he probably should have been , and now I’m glad he wasn’t in that position because he doesn’t get it ,” Oberholser added.