"He was done over" - Tour winner expresses sympathy for Jon Rahm over LIV Golf move

England's Eddie Pepperell says he feels sympathy for Jon Rahm because the Spaniard was duped by "foolish language" that prompted his switch to LIV Golf.

Rahm became the highest-profile player to join the breakaway circuit in December 2023 for a fee reportedly exceeding $350m.

The two-time major champion, who turned 32 on Monday, spent three seasons with LIV - winning four individual titles and amassing an additional $90m in official prize money - before opting against committing to a revamped circuit with new financial backers.

Rahm, a father of four, secured his first victory since departing LIV with a two-shot win over former Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

In the immediate aftermath of his first victory on the DP World Tour in four years, Rahm reflected on the mental toll following his exit from LIV.

"After everything that's gone on, and some poor play and some battles mentally with a lot of noise, to come back out after a bit of rest and being with the family, it's quite special," Rahm said. 

Speaking on the Chipping Forecast, Pepperell explained why he sympathises with the former Masters champion.

"Jon is probably the one that I feel most sympathy for, and sorry for in some respects, because I really do think he went to LIV off the back of the framework agreement," Pepperell said.

Pepperell was referencing the initial pact announced between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to align commercial interests and resolve the bitter dispute in the men's game. 

Outgoing PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan recently expressed remorse over the rollout of the proposed partnership, revealing he sought hospital treatment for stress-related exhaustion. 

Monahan added that he realised a final deal would not be consummated following a meeting with PIF representatives at the White House last February.

Before his title defence at the 2024 Masters, Rahm hinted in an interview with BBC Sport that he believed his move might serve as a tipping point to unify the game.

"The more I reflect on that, the most foolish language was used around that time by those in charge, because that was never an agreement," Pepperell added.

"From Jon's perspective, he perceived that to be an agreement, and I think he thought, 'I'm going to get ahead of this,' and made the decision he made, and of course in hindsight it was the wrong move to make."

Despite the fallout, which complicated Rahm's eligibility for the 2025 Ryder Cup, Pepperell believes the Spaniard has the self-awareness to acknowledge the misstep.

"I honestly think in his heart of hearts, Jon would recognise that," Pepperell said. 

"Jon's a very smart, intelligent person. When I listen to Jon speak, I think he comes across very well.

"Like anybody, he's going to have a hard time admitting he was wrong, but I think Jon is more capable than most of doing that, and I do think we'll see [him do that]."

Pepperell added: "I got a smell of that in some of the post-tournament interviews that he gave, that, yeah, he's recognised this.

"But again, to my first point, I have a degree of sympathy for him, because I think he was done over a little bit with the language at the time."