Jon Rahm Open to PGA Tour Return Under Koepka’s Terms

Two-time major champion Jon Rahm is willing to accept the same financial penalties and conditions imposed on Brooks Koepka if the PGA Tour offers him a pathway back. However, the former LIV Golf star remains uncertain whether he will receive the same opportunity after ending his association with the Saudi-backed league.

Rahm addressed his potential return to the PGA Tour on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. He said he has not yet held discussions with the tour, partly because of the recent birth of his fourth child. Although he is interested in returning, he acknowledged that his situation could be different from Koepka’s.

The Spaniard also confirmed that the DP World Tour could provide an alternative in 2027 if he is required to serve a suspension before becoming eligible to compete again on the PGA Tour.

Jon Rahm willing to accept Brooks Koepka’s return penalties

Rahm indicated that he would probably accept the same conditions Koepka agreed to when returning to the PGA Tour. However, he stressed that receiving an identical offer is far from guaranteed.

“Most likely, yeah,” Rahm said. “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 returned to the PGA Tour in January through a special Returning Member Program. The arrangement created a pathway for certain LIV Golf players to rejoin the tour, but it came with significant financial and competitive restrictions.

Rahm said he was prepared to accept those penalties if the PGA Tour extended the same terms to him. Nevertheless, the two-time major champion understands that the circumstances surrounding his departure from LIV Golf may affect the decision.

Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return deal explained

Koepka’s return was made possible through a new program introduced by the PGA Tour. It applied to LIV Golf players who had been away from the tour for at least two years and had won the Players Championship or one of golf’s four major championships since 2022.

The eligible major championships were the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship. Players who qualified also had to accept a series of conditions designed to make the return financially demanding.

As part of his agreement, Koepka accepted several significant restrictions:

• Player equity: He agreed to forfeit any player equity shares for the next five years.
• FedEx Cup bonus programme: He was not eligible for the $100 million FedEx Cup bonus programme in 2026.
• Charitable contribution: At the PGA Tour’s request, he agreed to make a $5 million donation to charity.

The programme also made other LIV Golf players eligible to return, including Rahm, 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, who won the 2022 Players Championship and Open Championship. However, all three chose to remain with LIV Golf at the time.

PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp described the Returning Member Program as a “one-time, defined window” when Koepka’s return was announced. He also made clear that the arrangement was not intended to establish a precedent for future situations. Rolapp has since said that the tour has no plans to bring the programme back.

Rahm has not yet spoken to the PGA Tour

Despite expressing his willingness to accept Koepka’s penalties, Rahm said he has not yet discussed a possible return with PGA Tour officials. His family circumstances have also affected the timing of those conversations following the birth of his fourth child.

“With the PGA Tour, things are a little bit different,” Rahm told reporters Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. “I haven’t been able to speak to them yet. Until things are finalized, which should be hopefully soon, and then we’ll see.”

The Spaniard acknowledged that he does not know what conditions the PGA Tour might offer. While Koepka’s agreement provides a possible reference point, Rahm does not expect that the same terms will automatically apply to him.

His situation remains uncertain as the PGA Tour has already indicated that the special programme was a one-time opportunity. Any future return arrangement would therefore depend on discussions with the tour and the conditions it is prepared to establish.

DP World Tour offers Rahm an alternative for 2027

If Rahm is unable to return to the PGA Tour immediately, he is prepared to compete on the DP World Tour throughout 2027. This option could become particularly important if he faces a one-year suspension similar to the punishment given to Patrick Reed and other golfers after leaving LIV Golf.

Rahm described the DP World Tour as a valuable safety net and said he would be excited about the possibility of playing a full season there.

“I don’t know what is in store for us. We know what they did with Brooks. This is different circumstances. I don’t know what things are going to look like. But it’s a pretty good safety net to have that I can play the DP World Tour next year, and if it comes to that, I’m really excited to play for a full year.”

His comments indicate that he is prepared to remain active at the highest level of professional golf even if an immediate PGA Tour return is not possible. Rather than waiting for a decision, Rahm could use the DP World Tour as his competitive base while the situation develops.

Jon Rahm reflects positively on his three years with LIV Golf

Rahm also reflected on his time with LIV Golf, describing the experience as positive despite his decision to leave. The Spaniard had served as captain of the Legion XIII team and reached a separation agreement with the league on October 15.

He reportedly walked away from more than $100 million that was still owed to him. Despite the financial implications, Rahm said he had enjoyed his three years with the organisation and was satisfied with the golf he played during that period.

“I would say I can only reflect on those three years as a positive,” Rahm said. “It was a wonderful experience. Played a lot of good golf. Obviously, individually and as a team, we did great. As much as I liked the project and the idea on, let’s say, LIV 1.0, I wasn’t thrilled with the changes they were doing to 2.0, and I just wasn’t willing to follow that path. It wasn’t anything special, anything that stood out. I just didn’t like what they were going with 2.0.”

His decision to leave was linked to his dissatisfaction with the direction of LIV Golf 2.0. Rahm made clear that he had valued the original project but was not interested in following the changes planned for the league’s next phase.

His departure marked a significant development for Legion XIII, the team he captained, and raised further questions about the future of LIV Golf as it attempted to reshape its business model.

Bryson DeChambeau leaves door open to LIV Golf return

While Rahm and others have indicated that they do not intend to return to LIV Golf 2.0, Bryson DeChambeau has suggested that his position could be different. Speaking on the “Figuring Out” podcast, the 2024 U.S. Open champion indicated that he might consider returning if the league survives.

DeChambeau discussed the possibility of a revised business structure that could make the league financially sustainable. His comments came as LIV Golf continued working through uncertainty surrounding its funding and future operations.

“The business model makes a lot of sense,” DeChambeau told the “Figuring Out” podcast. “And we’re actually working through that right now for this new model where it will make full financial sense. It’s no funny business, no nothing. It’s going to be done right, and this is going to be a league, hopefully, that exists forever.”

His comments contrasted with Rahm’s decision to leave because of dissatisfaction with the direction of LIV Golf 2.0. While Rahm has focused on the possibility of returning to the PGA Tour, DeChambeau has left open the possibility of continuing with LIV Golf under a revised structure.

LIV Golf faces financial uncertainty after funding changes

LIV Golf’s future has been under pressure following major changes to its financial backing. The league filed for Chapter 11 protection on September 8 after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund stopped providing funding in April.

The organisation subsequently secured a $300 million deal with BC Partners. However, the agreement is conditional on LIV Golf securing a certain number of golfers, leaving the league with an important challenge as it attempts to establish its next phase.

The uncertainty has raised questions about whether LIV Golf 2.0 can move forward or whether the organisation will eventually begin winding down its operations.

A LIV Golf lawyer told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge that the league expected to know by the end of October whether it would proceed with LIV Golf 2.0 or start winding down. The decision was expected to provide greater clarity about the organisation’s future and its ability to continue operating.

What happens next for Jon Rahm?

Rahm’s next move will depend largely on whether the PGA Tour is willing to offer him a route back and what conditions would be attached to that opportunity. His willingness to accept the same penalties as Koepka provides a clear indication of his position, but it does not guarantee that an agreement will be reached.

The PGA Tour has already described Koepka’s Returning Member Program as a one-time arrangement and has said it has no plans to revive it. Rahm therefore faces uncertainty over whether his circumstances will be considered separately or whether he will need to explore other competitive options.

If a one-year suspension prevents him from returning immediately, the DP World Tour could become his main destination for 2027. Rahm has said he would welcome the opportunity to compete there for a full season.

Meanwhile, LIV Golf continues to deal with financial and organisational questions following the loss of its previous funding arrangement. With Rahm having departed, DeChambeau considering the league’s future and the PGA Tour maintaining its position on the special return programme, professional golf remains in a period of significant uncertainty.