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Jon Rahm has been warned that he is unlikely to be offered the chance to return to the PGA Tour under the same terms as Brooks Koepka, should he decide to leave LIV Golf in the coming months.
There are plenty of eyes on Rahm as the 2026 LIV season edges closer to a conclusion.
When he decided to leave the PGA Tour in December 2023, it appeared to have the potential to be a turning point in the game’s civil war. However, it is LIV that is fighting for survival.
There was better news for the breakaway league on Wednesday, with Scott O’Neil claiming that an agreement had been reached with a lead investor. A deal is expected to be signed in September.
Jon Rahm facing a problem if he decides to try and return to the PGA Tour
O’Neil provided few details while speaking to the media. In fact, one of his most intriguing answers came when O’Neil was asked about Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
The CEO failed to confirm whether either player would be sticking around beyond this season. But perhaps the state of the pathway back to the PGA Tour may have an impact on the decision both men make.
Brooks Koepka was able to return to the PGA Tour under certain conditions earlier this year, with the five-time major champion forced to work his way back up the ladder.
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Rahm rejected the chance to make the same move at the time. And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that the Spaniard almost certainly cannot expect to be given the same opportunity.
“If Jon Rahm started the clock right now, let’s say he decided not to play in the New Jersey event, that means he won’t be allowed to play in a PGA Tour sanctioned event until next year’s Wyndham Championship, which leaves him virtually no time, no space to try and play his way into the top 70, top 50, top 90, whatever the case may be at that point,” he said.
“He’s already up against it when it comes to 2028 and beyond anyway. I can’t imagine him getting the same treatment as Brooks Koepka, not because he’s Jon Rahm and maybe things didn’t go as smoothly with him as they did with Brooks when Brooks left to go to LIV Golf, but because I don’t know that Brian Rolapp can sell the membership on that again, simply because of everything that transpired, particularly all the way to the Championship Series events.
“You’re right, they could come up with a scenario, you talked about 71 getting bumped, clearly they wouldn’t do that, as a matter of fact they would probably do what they are doing with Brooks Koepka this year, they would probably expand fields so this would benefit players, because they would probably have to expand the fields in these events to make sure that no one got the boot. That, however, still isn’t going to sit well with them. I don’t see Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm getting that sort of treatment.”
What Jon Rahm can learn from Brooks Koepka if he leaves LIV Golf
It is possible to have some sympathy for Rahm if his decision earlier this year was made for him due to how watertight his contract with LIV was.
Obviously, some will feel that he made his bed with his move to LIV in the first place, so it is his fault that he is in this predicament.
If he does attempt to come back to the PGA Tour, he could certainly do with taking a page from Koepka’s book and showing a lot of humility.
The PGA Tour did a great job with the terms offered to Koepka. They were reasonable enough, but also left him with so much work to do to return to the top.
There is a very good chance that Koepka will not make it to the FedEx Cup playoffs this year.
But Koepka seemed to endear himself to other players with his desire to get his head down and work. He appears to be grateful to have had the chance to return to the PGA Tour straight away.
If Rahm decides to leave LIV and seeks a return to the PGA Tour, he should certainly accept that he will have lots of work to do on and off the course.
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