Jon Rahm’s future in professional golf has become one of the sport’s biggest storylines as questions continue to surround LIV Golf’s long-term direction. The two-time major champion left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in December 2023, but the league is now entering a new phase after CEO Scott O’Neil announced that a lead investor agreement has been reached, with a formal deal expected to be signed in September.
Despite that announcement, uncertainty remains over whether Rahm and fellow LIV star Bryson DeChambeau will stay with the league beyond this season. When asked directly about their futures, O’Neil stopped short of confirming either player would remain, saying he would “certainly love them to comae along for the ride and journey.”
At the same time, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard has warned that Rahm’s path back to the PGA Tour is now significantly more complicated than the one Brooks Koepka received earlier this year.
Jon Rahm Faces Difficult PGA Tour Return After LIV Golf Exit Questions
GettyJon Rahm of Spain
Rahm’s options appear increasingly limited if he decides to leave LIV Golf.
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard explained that the timing alone presents a major obstacle.
“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,” Hoggard said.
Hoggard also believes Rahm should not expect the same reinstatement process that Brooks Koepka received after leaving LIV Golf.
“I can’t imagine him getting the same treatment as Brooks Koepka… because I don’t know that Brian Rolapp can sell the membership on that again, simply because of everything that transpired,” Hoggard said.
According to Hoggard, even if the PGA Tour expanded tournament fields to avoid removing current members from events, the proposal would still face resistance.
“They would probably expand the fields… 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,” he added.
Koepka returned to the PGA Tour earlier this year under a one-time returning member program after leaving LIV Golf before his contract expired. According to the information provided, he accepted strict conditions, including working his way back into events through performance rather than receiving automatic status.
Rahm previously declined the opportunity to pursue the same pathway.
LIV Golf Future Leaves Jon Rahm Facing Contract Questions
Rahm’s uncertainty extends beyond a possible PGA Tour return.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced this week that the league has secured an agreement with a lead investor as it prepares for what has been described as the circuit’s next era. The revised structure is expected to feature fewer tournaments and reduced prize money beginning in 2027.
When asked whether the new investment would ensure Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau remain with LIV Golf, O’Neil did not provide a direct commitment.
Instead, he praised both players, saying, “Would certainly love them to come along for the ride and journey because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that.”
Rahm’s situation may also involve significant financial considerations.
According to the Financial Times, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to seek discounted settlements on player contracts as LIV transitions into its next phase. The report states that Rahm is still owed more than $100 million under his existing agreement, potentially creating a major contract dispute if the league restructures.
If Rahm leaves LIV Golf, the PGA Tour would not be his only option. The information provided notes that he could also build a schedule around DP World Tour events while evaluating his long-term future.
For now, however, no decision has been announced.
With LIV Golf preparing for organizational changes, uncertainty surrounding future player commitments, and Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard warning that the Brooks Koepka blueprint is unlikely to be available again, Rahm faces important decisions both on and off the course as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Jon Rahm Warned Over PGA Tour Return as Brooks Koepka Comparison Emerges appeared first on HEAVY.