Golf-Masters champion Rahm joins LIV Golf

Golf - The 2023 Ryder Cup - Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy - October 1, 2023 Team Europe's Jon Rahm acknowledges the crowd as he walks past the Ryder Cup trophy on the 1st hole during the Singles REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo

(Reuters) - Masters champion Jon Rahm jumped from the PGA Tour to Saudi-backed LIV Golf on Thursday in a big-money move that has sent another shockwave through the sport.

The 29-year-old becomes the biggest name to sign on with the rebel circuit funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) since Australian Cameron Smith joined after winning the 2022 British Open.