Brandel Chamblee shares his theory on why Jon Rahm left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf

He said: “Jon Rahm, you know, it’s hard to leave Jon Rahm off (The Ryder Cup team). Data Golf has got him in the top five of the world, so it is hard to leave him off.

“Although he did look disgruntled in the media centre (during the Ryder Cup in Rome). And I think that’s part of why, who knows exactly why, maybe it was for the money, but I think part of the reason why he left was because he didn’t feel like he had as big of a voice in the world of golf as Rory McIlroy.”

“It’s hard to say but when he was finally asked a question in the media centre in Rome he acted like he was asleep and he acted like he was pissed that he wasn’t asked a question previously, and that they were all going to Rory.”

“No because I think Luke Donald is so bright and would have thought how to handle that. And Rory when they asked Rahm that question and acted disgruntled they hadn’t asked him a question previously said yeah ‘he’s only number one player in world’.

What Jon Rahm Believes would have happened to Rory McIlroy if he won the 2011 Masters

In 2011, Rory McIlroy suffered a difficult collapse at Augusta National, losing his lead on the back nine and missing out on what looked like an inevitable Masters title.

McIlroy’s chances faded after a tough stretch from the 10th to the 12th holes, where he dropped six shots. His round ended with an 80, and it took him another 14 years before he finally claimed his first green jacket.

Back in May, Rahm shared his thoughts on how McIlroy’s career might have unfolded differently if things had gone his way in that tournament.

He said: “To be honest, if that Masters in ’11 had gone his way, I think he would have achieved so much more than he has already.

“I think it’s been a very difficult hurdle to overcome, and you could see his emotion towards the end, just because his first real chance to win a major, and how it went down.

“I understand he won the US Open shortly after by a record margin, but every time he went to Augusta, that was on his mind. It’s funny to me when you see Rory’s game; every time I went down to Augusta National, I’m like if there’s ever a golf course that is perfect for this man who can hit a high draw on command better than anybody else has great hands and great touch it’s him.

“He’s had so many chances. It’s just never easy. It’s very difficult. I would not be one bit surprised if this lifted a weight off his shoulders that could get him going on another run… A player of his calibre – you never know.”