LIV Golf star Jon Rahm has claimed that he is not the real owner of his Legion XIII team. The Spaniard was given the opportunity to own an expansion team after agreeing to join the breakaway league from the PGA Tour in 2023.
The creation of the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf has created a divide within professional golf in recent years, luring several top names away from the PGA. There has been speculation about LIV's long-term future following reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) could be set to withdraw its funding, potentially jeopardising the league. LIV CEO Scott O'Neil pushed back on these claims in a leaked email last week. However, recent comments from Rahm signal the PIF's importance to the league.
The 31-year-old controversially opted to sign with LIV, despite previously speaking out against the format. As part of his reported nine-figure deal, the two-time major winner was offered the chance to lead Legion XIII in LIV's team format but Rahm has pushed back on the idea that he owns the side.
"Well, as for being an owner... The real owners of each team are still the league and the PIF (Saudi investment fund)," he told Spanish outlet ABC. "So they're the ones in charge, sort of.
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"What does give me more responsibility is being captain of Legion XIII, although I'm lucky to have Tyrrell Hatton, a very veteran player who turned pro well before I did, and it's almost like having two captains."
In March 2025, Legion XIII agreed an equipment deal with Callaway. The four-man team consists of captain Rahm alongside Hatton, Northern Irish golfer Tom McKibbin and American Caleb Surratt
Legion XIII clinched the team championship last season and secured their first victory of the year at LIV Golf Mexico City last week, comfortably finishing in top spot on 45-under-par. The event went ahead amid the speculation over LIV's future but the added noise did not seem to affect Rahm, who also won the individual event by six strokes.
"I'm not paying any attention to it at all," Rahm told ABC when asked about the rumours regarding LIV's future. "The other day I started getting messages about it, so I turned my phone off.
"Until the people in charge here tell me something concrete, I'm not going to waste my time thinking about it. I have a signed contract, and everyone here gets paid. I don't see any reason to worry. What I have to do is play golf."
Rahm has topped LIV's season-long points standings in each of his previous two seasons. The league's next scheduled event is LIV Golf Virginia, which will begin on May 7 in Washington DC.
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