Jon Rahm’s departure from LIV Golf has opened a new chapter in his career, but the two-time major champion is still facing uncertainty over where he will compete next season. As he reacts to PGA Tour’s new return policy.
The Spaniard has made it clear that he is ready to move on from the breakaway league, although a return to the PGA Tour may depend on whether the organisation is prepared to offer him a route back.
Speaking ahead of the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi event on November 3, Rahm revealed that he had not yet held discussions with PGA Tour officials about a possible return in 2027.
For now, his plan is to compete on the DP World Tour for the full season if no agreement can be reached with the PGA Tour.
However, Rahm also addressed the possibility of accepting the same conditions imposed on Brooks Koepka when he returned to the PGA Tour at the beginning of 2026.
Asked whether he would accept those penalties if offered the same deal, Rahm responded: “Most likely, yeah. Why not? Yeah, but it’s a big if. I seriously doubt I get offered the same deal that Brooks did. But yeah, if I got offered exactly the same penalties as him, I probably would do it, yes.”
Koepka was the only player to accept the PGA Tour’s temporary Returning Member Program after it was offered to four former LIV players. The agreement required him to make a $5 million charitable contribution, forfeit access to player equity for five years and give up eligibility for the 2026 FedExCup bonus programme. He also had to earn his way into Signature Events rather than receive sponsor exemptions.
Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were also offered the opportunity but turned it down at the time.
The situation has since changed, with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp previously confirming that there were no current plans to bring back the special reinstatement programme.
That leaves Rahm uncertain about whether the same opportunity will be available to him following his departure from LIV Golf.
The former world number one acknowledged that Koepka had returned under specific circumstances but admitted he had no guarantee of receiving similar treatment.
“Obviously Brooks was able to go back through certain circumstances. I don’t know if the possibility of that would be open for me or not,” Rahm explained.
He also indicated that serving a one-year suspension would not necessarily be a major setback, given the opportunity to compete regularly on the DP World Tour.
“If I have to fulfil a one-year suspension, I think it’s a pretty good position to be that a worst-case scenario I get to play on a wonderful tour for a whole year,” he said.
Rahm’s comments come after he rejected the proposed LIV Golf 2.0 structure, explaining that he was unhappy with the changes being considered for the league’s next phase.
While he described his three seasons with LIV as a positive experience, he said the proposed changes moved away from the team-based concept that originally attracted him.
With no confirmed agreement with the PGA Tour and no clear indication that its special return programme will be reopened, Rahm’s immediate future remains unresolved.
For now, the Spaniard is preparing for a possible full season on the DP World Tour in 2027 while leaving the door open for further discussions with PGA Tour officials.