Jon Rahm's American Express entry list no-show fuels further speculation about LIV switch

Speculation that Jon Rahm is weighing up a lucrative offer to sign with LIV Golf received additional fuel on Wednesday when the world number three was not among the notable names listed as committed to the American Express field next month.

The Scottsdale, Arizona. resident regularly plays the American Express in La Quinta, California, as part of his US west coast swing schedule. Rahm has won the event twice - including last year - and tied for 14th in 2022.

However, he was not among the marquee names released by tournament organizers on Wednesday that includes Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau and Tom Kim.

It is highly unusual for a defending champion to not enter an event, especially one Rahm has enjoyed significant success at. It is worth noting that the 2024 schedule features eight designated events, causing players who qualify for them to carefully evaluate their schedules in conjunction with the four majors and the Players Championship.

The Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines - the site of Rahm's first major triumph at the 2021 US Open - is the week after the American Express.

That is followed by the first designated event at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. And that tournament is immediately followed by the WM Phoenix Open just a short drive from Rahm's home and the Genesis Invitational, where he is also the defending champion.

It's very possible that the new schedule, along with the torrid start Rahm enjoyed last year, makes it too challenging to defend in La Quinta. But the fact the Spaniard has yet to commit to the event was another in a string of potential telltale signs that Rahm is indeed weighing an offer from LIV reportedly in the neighborhood of $600 million (€555.8m).

Rahm initially committed to