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Jon Rahm and JJ Watt are very close friends and Watt took to Twitter and let everyone know what he thought of Rahm’s LIV Golf offer.
Earlier Wednesday, reports emerged about Jon Rahm possibly joining LIV Golf. He reportedly has held talks with executives from the Saudi-backed circuit for the last few weeks.
Then, later in the day, another report surfaced about Rahm possibly signing for $600 million—an astronomical figure that outpaces any other LIV Golf signee.
So when J.J. Watt, a close friend of Rahm’s, learned of this news, he posted a hilarious tweet that was met with plenty of laughter:
“If this number was correct, I would have driven to Jon’s house myself and used extreme physical force to ensure he signed that deal…” Watt posted to X Wednesday afternoon.
Watt played as a defensive end for the Houston Texans from 2011 to 2020 and the Arizona Cardinals for two years in 2021 and 2022. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors on three occasions, in 2012, 2014, and 2015. He is also a five-time First Team All-Pro and will undoubtedly be a Pro Football Hall of Famer in due time.
So, while living in Arizona, he and Rahm became close friends, as the two often hang out in Scottsdale together. Rahm, who attended Arizona State, has called Scottsdale his home ever since turning professional.
The two friends even played in the Pro-Am together before the Waste Management Phoenix Open last February. Rahm finished in solo third, five strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
Whether these rumors about Rahm’s exit are valid remains to be seen. He has not commented publicly about the matter since August, when he appeared on a Spanish podcast and expressed his feelings about LIV Golf.
“I laugh when people rumor me with LIV Golf,” Rahm said in Spanish, which Argentinian outlet Handicap 54 transcribed, translated, and posted to its Twitter feed.
“I’ve never liked the format. And I always have a good time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia in the practice rounds of majors.”
Indeed, Rahm is not a fan of the shotgun starts or the 54-hole format LIV Golf employs.
Thus, Rahm would only go to LIV Golf if the Saudi-backed circuit changed its structure, according to the initial report.
Yet, if LIV Golf does cater to his wishes, then the Spaniard will likely head that way, meaning Watt will not have to knock on his door and ask why he did not accept the lavish offer.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.
