by BOB HARIG
If Jon Rahm just played his last tournament as part of the LIV Golf League, he will have a place to play in 2027. It just might not be on the PGA Tour.
The two-time major champion who won LIV’s season-long individual title each of the past three years, has membership on the DP World Tour and will be playing events in Europe soon enough.
But his path back to the PGA Tour won’t be as simple and – despite that value he brings – shouldn’t be. Why? Because there’s a good number of players on the PGA Tour who believe his signing with LIV Golf in December of 2023 prolonged the fight between the two entities rather than hastened peace – as Rahm thought it might.
Three more years have played out, and now Rahm is facing the prospect of a diminished LIV Golf 2.0. There have been considerable rumblings – unconfirmed – that’s sought a path back but the PGA Tour maintains it will not enter any discussions with any LIV players until it is made clear that they are no longer in contract.
Rahm’s deal with LIV Golf and ostensibly the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is believed to be for at least one more year, with a considerable sum owed. If LIV Golf declares for bankruptcy, that could be the out Rahm needs.
But many PGA Tour players have long memories and PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has an interesting road to navigate.
“I’m not part of these discussions, but I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be welcomed back straight away,” McIlroy said of those who might leave LIV after this year. “If they were offered this returning member program back in (January), the one that Brooks (Koepka) took, then, yeah, maybe. But that has sort of come and gone. And I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn’t going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. So, yeah, I would say it’s going to be a tough, tough road back.”
Scottie Scheffler was a bit more diplomatic.
“When we talk about the best players, LIV has a few players that are really good,” Scheffler said. “I think the depth that we have on our Tour is bit unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there’s definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour, and guys that I love competing against as well.
“So I think going forward there obviously has to be some sort of penalties. What those are, I’ll let Rolapp and all those guys figure it out.”
Koepka was offered a chance to come back under a returning member program that would have also allowed Rahm, Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau to return this year with certain restrictions including being ineligible for Signature events unless they qualified. Only Koepka took the deal, and Rolapp said it was a one-time offer.
The view here is that they’ll make Rahm wait.
by ANN LIGUORI
If Jon Rahm wants to return to the PGA Tour, I say let him back, but impose strong fines with all the money going to charity.
Rumors about Jon Rahm making a return to the PGA Tour have been flying around more plentiful than mulligans at a charity scramble.
Although nothing has been substantiated, why wouldn’t he want to rejoin the PGA Tour? That’s where most of the top players compete week in and week out, on the most familiar stages, and where, outside of the major championships, a player’s legacy is largely built and measured. And the prize money now on the PGA Tour is off the charts (because of LIV Golf!)
Jon Rahm bolted for LIV Golf for an enormous payday, and if reports are accurate, he’s still waiting for a substantial chunk of it. Some reports suggest LIV could still owe him as much as 150 million.
He knew exactly what he was leaving behind – the PGA Tour, its history, its traditions and the opportunity to compete every week against the majority of the game’s best players.
So I’m not suggesting his decision to leave should simply be forgotten. Choices have consequences, and there absolutely should be consequences if he wants to return. But those consequences should not amount to a lifetime sentence.
Let him back because professional golf is better when the best players in the world compete against each other.
And Jon Rahm is unquestionably one of those players.
Rahm is a two-time major champion, a former World No. 1, an 11-time PGA Tour winner and one of the most compelling competitors of his generation. He has also remained an elite player since leaving the Tour. In 2026, he won the LIV Golf individual season title for the third consecutive year and finished tied for second at the PGA Championship.
So from a purely competitive standpoint, why wouldn’t the PGA Tour want him?
We’ve already crossed this bridge with Brooks Koepka. The PGA Tour created a Returning Member Program that allowed Koepka back under significant financial restrictions. Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were also eligible for that program but chose not to take advantage of it before the deadline.
Rahm had an opportunity to return and declined it. Therefore, if he wants to come back now, I don’t believe he should receive a better deal than Koepka received. In fact, there is a strong argument that the price should be steeper.
Players who remained loyal to the PGA Tour turned down enormous sums of money from LIV. They helped sustain the Tour during one of the most divisive periods professional golf has ever experienced. Their loyalty has to mean something.
At the same time, the PGA Tour shouldn’t make decisions based on revenge.
There has been enough division.
Golf fans have been the biggest losers in this battle. For several years, outside the majors and Ryder Cup, we haven’t consistently seen all of the game’s best players competing against one another.
Scottie Scheffler against Jon Rahm. Rory McIlroy against Bryson DeChambeau. The biggest personalities playing the biggest tournaments against the strongest possible fields.
Isn’t that what fans want?
Rory recently suggested that LIV players seeking to return could face a “tough road back.” I understand that perspective. Choices have consequences.
But there is a difference between imposing consequences and permanently closing the door.
If Rahm wants back, impose strong financial penalties and have all the money go to charity.
The PGA Tour would never appear desperate to get Rahm back. They probably feel they really don’t need him.
But being too proud to take him back is not a good look.
Professional golf desperately needs less politics and more golf. And having Jon Rahm competing regularly against the best players in the world would make the PGA Tour stronger.
So if the PGA Tour is genuinely interested in having Jon Rahm back, let him back, but make him pay a significant price for the privilege. Impose a substantial financial penalty and rather than allowing the Tour to pocket the money, direct every dollar to charity. That turns Rahm’s return into something that actually does some good for those less fortunate.
Listen to the award-winning ‘TALKING GOLF with ANN LIGUORI’ on Audacy, Apple, Spotify. Her second book, ‘Life on the Green, Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf’ is available on amazon. And as an Ambassador for IBKUL athleisure wear, Ann is happy to share her friends and family discount with readers: PROMO CODE ‘Ann20’ for 20% off all regularly priced items at www.ibkul.com
BOB HARIG is one of the most respected and knowledgeable golf writers in the business. His resume includes stints at Sports Illustrated and SIRIUS XM PGA Tour radio. He contributes to a golf newsletter on Substack called the Daily Drive. https://www.the-daily-drive.com/ Bob has covered more than 140 major championships — including every one of Tiger’s 15 major wins as well as all of Phil Mickelson’s and Rory McIlroy’s six each — and events on every golfing continent. He’s written three books on golf, including his most recent “Tiger v. Jack: Golf’s Great Debate.” https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-v-Jack-Golfs-Debate-ebook/dp/B0FLZ4MNRW?ref_=ast_author_mpb
