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Jon Rahm appeared to be the first player to publicly congratulate a player for winning a LIV Golf Tour event after he claimed victory at the Open de Espana.
Jon Rahm appeared to become the first member of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to congratulate a player publicly for winning a LIV Golf Tour event.
Rahm went absolutely bananas on Sunday at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and strolled to victory with a 9-under par final round to capture the Open de Espana, winning by as many as six strokes.
With his victory he matched Seve Ballesteros’ record of winning three home opens. Rahm completed the feat at the age of 27.
In the immediate aftermath of his victory, other than paying tribute to the iconic golfer, Rahm took the time to give props to Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra for winning LIV Golf’s invitational event in Bangkok at Stonehill.
Related: How much they won at LIV Golf Bangkok
Lopez-Chaccara, 22, opted for a different path when he turned professional four months ago.
The Spaniard decided not to pursue a career on the PGA Tour by attempting to gain his playing rights on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Instead, he decided to join Greg Norman’s breakaway tour which has had a seismic effect on the world of professional golf.
Lopez-Chacarra has reportedly signed a three-year deal with LIV Golf said to be worth between $8-10m.
| Cam Smith says it would be “heartbreaking” if he were not able to return to compete at The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.
He also told ABC Grandstand that one of the reasons why he also joined LIV Golf is because the Tour’s schedule was “brutal”
Thoughts?! pic.twitter.com/W03DelAOd2
He also picked up $4m for the win and a further $750,000 for helping his side win the team element. Lopez-Chacarra is part of Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC side which also has former PGA Tour members Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz in their ranks.
Related: Rahm swats away LIV Golf rumours…again
Rahm said in Spanish: “Although some people want to make us look at them [LIV Golf] as the enemy, he is just a 22 years old guy winning against some of the best players of the world. Congratulations if you see this Eugenio.”
WATCH:
Here is Jon Rahm congratulating Eugenio Chacarra for his victory: “Although some people want to make us look at them ( Liv) as the enemy, he is just a 22 years old guy winning against some of the best players of the world. Contraulations if you see this Eugenio.” pic.twitter.com/PfpfDKGUJt
Rahm’s comments come in the same week he appeared to completely disagree with the likes of Rory McIlroy about LIV Golf players participating in the Ryder Cup.
The Spaniard has previously voiced his support for the aforementioned Garcia, suggesting that he shouldn’t be banned from playing in the biennial event because he plays in LIV tournaments.
Elsewhere, it appears that Garcia’s hopes for a spot in Luke Donald’s 2023 Ryder Cup Europe side are all but over after he missed a deadline to commit to the Mallorca Open on the DP World Tour, meaning he has not played the minimum number of events to be considered for selection even if a court rules in the LIV players’ favour in February.
