Thomas “bummed” to lose Hatton but says Norman hasn’t met objectives
Jon Rahm
Justin Thomas believes LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has failed to back up his promise to sign more than a dozen stars this year and reckons the breakaway league will have little impact beyond Major weeks.
Speaking as Jon Rahm's new LIV Golf team, Legion XIII — featuring Tyrrell Hatton, amateur Caleb Surratt and Zimbabwe's Kieran Vincent was officially unveiled —the two-time Major winner admitted he was "bummed" to see Hatton leave the PGA Tour.
But he also admitted he expected more noise from LIV Golf in the off-season and sees the breakaway league making little impact outside the Majors.
"Obviously, I'm bummed, and I wish he wasn't, but it's not -- it's not like I'm going to call him and give him some spiel about how he shouldn't," Thomas said of Hatton's defection.
"I'm sure he's -- I hope he's done his homework and research and feels it's the best decision, but it is what it is I guess."
The two-time PGA champion was speaking ahead of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where nine of the world's top 10 and 69 of the top 100 are in action in the second of eight Signature Events.
With no more big-name signings to come following the close-season acquisitions of Adrian Meronk, Rahm and Hatton, Thomas believes Norman has failed to make the impact he was aiming for and believes LIV will provide few storylines beyond the weeks of Majors.
"Yeah, at least from what, you know, what Greg said, they haven't gotten anything close to what he's kind of said," Thomas said, when asked for what he thought might be the big LIV storyline in 2024.
"It sounded like they were going to sign 10 or 15 people this however many months and haven't.
“I don't know. I'm not just saying this. I don't really know enough about what's going on to even kind of give a storyline.
"I think at the end of the day, the guys that are out there that are still, if you want to call it, kind of in their prime or can still play their best golf, I would say that their priorities are still set on the majors versus their season out there.
"I think that the storylines, in my opinion, will continue to be if those guys play well in major championships and win major championships. I think that's more of a storyline I would think than they could create on that tour.”
Reigning Masters champion Rahm will be aiming to increase his Major haul, but he insisted "the warrior spirit mythology" and "the credo of faithful loyalty" that inspired the Romans is the reason he's opted to name his team Legion XIII for the forthcoming season following his reputed €500 million move to LIV in December.
Confirming the signing of European Ryder Cup star Hatton, the Basque star will be joined by LIV Promotions event graduate Vincent and 2023 Walker Cup star Surratt, who will turn pro for LIV Golf's opening event in Mexico on Friday.
"I'm really excited for this next chapter, to link up with Jon Rahm and Legion XIII, and to get started this week in Mexico," Hatton said in a press release announcing Rahm's captaincy of LIV's first "expansion team"
The Basque is believed to have phoned Hatton to persuade him to sign for LIV for an undisclosed fee (reportedly close to £50 million).
"We've come a long way in a short period of time and are extremely proud of the team and brand we are building," Rahm said.
"As we were developing the team's brand it became clear that I wanted to fight alongside a group of guys who aligned perfectly with what the team stands for.
"Tyrrell is a fierce competitor, proven champion, and, of course, my Ryder Cup teammate. Caleb is one of the brightest next gen stars of the game. And Kieran is a steady, talented ball striker who earned his promotion to LIV and is elevating his game every day."
Explaining the choice of name and the team's roaring lion logo, Rahm added: "I wanted to go down the warrior spirit mythology side for the team's name.
"The term loyalty is very important for me -- I think it embodies the warrior spirit through its decisiveness and ready-for-battle mindset.
"During the Roman Empire, there was the iconic Legion XIII Gemina in Caesar's army. They believed in the credo of faithful loyalty."
Surrat, who is ranked 10th in the World Amateur Golf ranking ahead of his professional debut on Friday, won three of a possible four points in last year's US Walker Cup win at St Andrews.
"The opportunity to turn pro and be a part of Jon Rahm's team is truly a special opportunity that is a great fit for me," Surratt said. "I'm excited about the chance to compete and begin my professional career here in Mayakoba."
Vincent secured one of the three qualifying spots via last year's LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi and joins his brother, Scott, who plays for the Iron Heads.
Final lineups for the 2024 LIV Golf season will be unveiled on Wednesday before the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba event, which starts at El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del Carmen on Friday.
