Jon Rahm has a brand new identify for his LIV Golf staff.
Because the thirteenth staff throughout the Saudi-backed circuit, Rahm’s staff can be referred to as Legion XIII, or Legion 13 GC, per The Tee Instances and LIV Golf Updates.
The identify stems from the Legio XIII Gemina, considered one of Julius Caesar’s most important items throughout his civil struggle in Historical Rome within the first century BC.
The Legio XIII Gemina unit served Caesar throughout his governorship in Gaul, an space that includes modern-day France, Belgium, Germany, and Northern Italy. After his tenure in Gaul expired, Caesar led his legion to Rome to consolidate energy, which included crossing the Rubicon.
In fact, the phrase ‘Crossing the Rubicon’ has turn out to be an idiom that represents ‘passing some extent of no return.’
As soon as Caesar crossed the Rubicon—a river in Northern Italy—his forces shortly occupied components of that space. Caesar and his males descended upon Rome in due time, resulting in his rise as dictator. He gained absolute energy in 49 BC, and his reign lasted 5 years.
However as Caesar rose to energy, the Roman Republic round him declined. Consequently, a gaggle of senators famously assassinated Caesar in 44 BC, and the Republic turned an Empire throughout the following many years.
However, Caesar crossing the Rubicon modified the course of historical past—simply as Rahm bolting to LIV Golf altered the panorama {of professional} golf.
Rahm handed some extent of no return by becoming a member of the breakaway league.
Like Historical Rome throughout the time of Caesar, golf has been consumed by a civil struggle over the previous few years. The tip of this ongoing saga is maybe close to because the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF)—LIV Golf’s beneficiary—proceed to barter in regards to the future construction {of professional} golf.
However throughout these talks, Rahm jumped ship to LIV.
And for Rahm to create a staff that pulls from Caesar is each symbolic and spectacular. The metaphor that’s Legion XIII can also be correct, as Rahm is among the most important characters presently within the sport of golf—simply as Caesar was to the Roman Republic.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.