Jon Rahm breaks silence on LIV Golf defection

Professional golfer Jon Rahm tells 'Special Report' why he's leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.

Jon Rahm officially joined LIV Golf Thursday, joining Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in spurning the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed series.

The reigning Masters champion made the announcement on Fox News Channel’s "Special Report" wearing a black and white letterman jacket with "LIV Golf" emblazoned across his right shoulder.

The No. 3 golfer in the world stunned golf fans who likely believed he was going to stay on the PGA Tour.

He touted the organization’s history and his own legacy just last year while chiding LIV for its 54-hole tournaments. Those days are clearly over.

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Masters champion Jon Rahm throws out the first pitch during Game 4 of the World Series at Chase Field Oct. 31, 2023. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA Today Network)

"It is not an easy decision because I've had a really successful career, and I've been very happy. But there's a lot of things that LIV Golf has to offer that were very, very enticing, starting with team golf," he told Fox News’ Bret Baier. "Being part of a team is something that's been really big for me throughout my career. 

"I was part of the Spanish national team from the age of 14 till I graduated college. I was part of the Arizona State golf team. And you know, as a pro, you don't have that chance very often. And if you are European or American, you barely have that chance, right? 

"So, it's something that is very, very fun to play for something more than just yourself. And simply the growth that LIV Golf has brought to the game of golf. Right? It's something fresh, something new, something with a ton of potential