⛳ $600M For Jon Rahm

Good morning. It may be a relatively slow period on the pro golf calendar, but the sport is buzzing thanks to rumors that LIV Golf is aggressively pushing to sign its biggest player yet.

Follow along about the rumored LIV Golf news in one of our top stories today, along with Tiger Woods making headlines on his long-awaited return to the tour this week.

ALBATROS
Tiger’s First Round Tee Time + Pairing

Tiger Woods’ long-awaited return to competitive action will see him paired with one of his closest friends, Justin Thomas, during the opening round of the Hero World Challenge.

Two-time Major winner Thomas is making his first PGA Tour start since September's Fortinet Championship, While Woods is making his first appearance since undergoing ankle surgery in April.

While all eyes will be on Woods when he and Thomas begin their challenges at 11.52 ET at Albany, there are some attractive pairings elsewhere in the 20-player field.

Play will begin over an hour earlier, at 10.46am, with Open champion Brian Harman and Lucas Glover going out first. Other notable pairings include former US Open champions Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose, who tee it up at 11.30am, while World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is paired with Sam Burns, with the duo getting underway at 11.41am.

EAGLE
$600M For Jon Rahm To Join LIV Golf

• Phil Mickelson is believed to have the largest LIV contract at $200 million.

Rumors are flying about this year’s Masters champion, Jon Rahm, jumping to the Saudi-backed league. That signing bonus is rumored on social media to be in the $600 million range.

All you must do is follow the PIF’s actions in sports recently to see that $600 million is not only possible but, if they believe Rahm is a generational player, probable.

PIF owns an 80% stake in the Premier League’s Newcastle United and reportedly offered $400 million to soccer star Lionel Messi.

Having just turned 29 on November 10, the two-time major champion Spaniard is an important cog in the PGA Tour and DP World Tour’s plans for the future and would be equally important in not only growing but legitimizing LIV, which after two years has struggled to make much of a splash in the golf market.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

• Ahead of the Hero World Challenge, relive 10 of Tiger Woods’ most heroic shots.

• Landon Silinsky previews the Hero World Challenge and gives his picks for your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups.

• Tiger Wood's daughter has regularly been seen watching her dad at tournaments, but does she play the game too?

• Dean Burmester, a member of LIV Golf’s all-South African Stinger GC team, posted his 10th career professional win Sunday after a brilliant bogey-free 6-under 64 to capture the Joburg Open. Earns Open Championship spot.

• This week’s Hero World Challenge, which begins Thursday at Albany in New Providence, Bahamas, features a significantly smaller purse and winner’s check than what PGA Tour are used to, at just $3.5 million and $1 million, respectively. However, the Hero’s field includes just 20 players – and last place in the no-cut event still takes home six figures.

• Executive director leaving former Honda Classic to join Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy new golf league TGL.

BIRDIE
The Real Reason You Miss Putts, According To Science

Last season, PGA Tour pros made 87.87% of their putts inside 10 feet. Inside 5 feet, that number jumps to 96.85%. While it’s true that pros do everything well, their ability with a putter in their hands is what makes them some of the best golfers in the world.

So, why are pros so good at putting? It all starts with clubface control.

At a recent coaches camp hosted by GOLF Top 100 Teacher Andrew Rice, sports biomechanics professor (and golf science guru) Sasho MacKenzie made a presentation on what causes missed putts. And while stroke path and speed have some impact on the way the ball rolls, the biggest factor in missing straight putts is improper face angle.

Read the full article here.

DRIVING RANGE
5 Golf Tips To Break 100

In this short game lesson, Me And My Golf gives 5 golf tips to help golfers lower their score and break 100.

PAR FOR THE COURSE
This Day In History

On November 28, 1965, at the LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Kathy Whitworth won by 10 shots from Peggy Wilson for her first major title.