Weeks have passed since we learned about Jon Rahm was leaving LIV Golf after three years with the upstart league. We only know that based on the statements his lawyers made in LIV’s bankruptcy court. We haven’t heard anything directly from Rahm.
But that changed in a big way on Tuesday.
Rahm makes the first start of his post-LIV career at the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship this week, and on Tuesday he sat down for his first press conference as a elder LIV Golf Pro.
In response to reporters’ questions, Rahm revealed both the specific reasons he was not interested in signing up for LIV 2.0 and discussed the possibility of making a PGA Tour return in 2027.
Jon Rahm on LIV’s exit: “It was never highly regarded to be honest”
On Tuesday morning in Abu Dhabi, Rahm opened his first response by calling his three years with LIV Golf, who joined in 2023 on a nine-figure deal“a wonderful experience,” saying he “played a lot of good golf” during his time with the league.
Later, when pressed for details on why he decided to leave LIV, Rahm revealed that while he loved the original LIV, he wasn’t “thrilled” with the plans for LIV 2.0.
“Why did I reject the terms? As much as I liked the project and the idea on, let’s say, LIV 1.0, I wasn’t excited with the changes they made to 2.0 and I wasn’t willing to follow that path, right. It wasn’t anything special, something that stood out,” explained Rahm.
He continued, “I know, yeah, I didn’t like what they were going with 2.0.”
As far as we know, the current vision for LIV 2.0 involves a shorter season with fewer events and smaller prize purses. A schedule of 10 events has been floated, five of which will be team events.
But at this point, they are just visions. Nothing has been formally decided. LIV is still trying to land commitments from players to ensure comprehensive investments for the future. As engagement deadlines have come and gone, star players continue to flee LIVespecially to join the DP World Tour full time.
The lack of certainty surrounding LIV’s future played a large role in Rahm’s decision to leave, as did the changes that Rahm claimed would make LIV more than a “regular tour.”
“Too many unknowns at the moment and there are still a few. It seemed like it was moving away from team golf and some of the things that make LIV, LIV. It just became more of a regular tour,” Rahm said Tuesday.
For these reasons, Rahm revealed that he never seriously considered signing for LIV 2.0.
“So yeah, it wasn’t really highly regarded to be honest,” he said.
Rahm on possible PGA Tour return: ‘There’s still a question mark’
Now the question for Rahm is this: what’s next?
The DP World Tour is Rahm’s most obvious avenue for playing time, and he confirmed as much on Tuesday, saying the tour has been “really gracious” in allowing him to play his events, such as this week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, the first playoff event of the season.
As for the PGA TourRahm admitted “things are a little different.”
He said he has not yet started negotiations with the PGA Tour for a possible return in 2027, and until then, his plan is to play the full season in Europe.
“So I have yet to have a discussion with the PGA Tour to see if there is a way back for next year,” explained Rahm. “So I don’t know, until now. Until I have clarity on this, yes, my plan would be to spend the year in the DP World Tour, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Rahm isn’t the first LIV star to leave with hopes of making a PGA Tour comeback. A year ago, Brooks Koepka ended his LIV career and rejoined the PGA Tour via the returning members program. That path was open to Rahm last year as well, but he turned it down. That path is closed now, and Rahm acknowledged that he is facing “different circumstances” than Koepka.
“I don’t know what’s in store for us. We know what they did with Brooks (Koepka). This is different circumstances. I don’t know what things will be,” Rahm said on Tuesday.
Later in his press conference, Rahm openly pondered whether Koepka’s path back to the PGA Tour. could open the way back for him.
“I didn’t really get too deep just because there’s always a question mark, right. Obviously Brooks was able to come back through certain circumstances. I don’t know if the possibility of that would be open to me or not,” said Rahm. “But if I’m going to serve a one-year suspension, I think it’s a pretty good position to be in the worst-case scenario that I can play on a wonderful tour for a whole year.”
Although he was granted an accelerated path back to the PGA Tour, where he won 11 times, Rahm said he would still play DP World Tour events to support the European circuit.
“I’ll support the tour, of course, and even if I get to go play PGA Tour events, I’ll still play European Tour events,” Rahm said. “I will play some events that I want to play as I have done in the past and maybe a few more.”
While LIV 2.0 is in dire straits, the Rahm 2.0 era officially begins on Thursday.
