For the first time since leaving for LIV Golf, Jon Rahm has publicly acknowledged he wants to return to the PGA Tour and he's willing to do so on terms the PGA Tour previously offered Brooks Koepka. But Rahm is also realistic about the complications due to his 2023 decision to join LIV, a move that deepened the divide in professional golf this decade.
Rahm told reporters on Tuesday, Nov. 3, ahead of the start to the DP World Tour's playoffs in Abu Dhabi that his plans for the 2027 season remain uncertain and the 31-year-old Spaniard has yet to speak with PGA Tour officials about a path back for next year. Rahm indicated he would accept the same deal Koepka agreed to when he returned to the PGA Tour this past season, while also expressing "doubt"
such an offer would be extended.
Rahm announced last month he would not be participating in plans for LIV 2.0, which was a substantial blow to the league's hopes of successfully emerging from bankruptcy proceedings. Rahm, a two-time major winner, was the league's best player and three-time reigning individual champion.
"I have yet to have a discussion with the PGA Tour to see if there's any path back for next year," Rahm said Tuesday. "So I don't know, as of right now. Until I get clarity on that, yeah, my plan would be to spend the year on the DP World Tour, and I'm looking forward to it. Currently looking at the schedule to see how I can organize it to play the events that I want to play. You know, maybe have a chance to have a bit of a different year to what I have in the past.
"But I haven't really gone too deeply into it because there's still a question mark," he continued. "Obviously, Brooks was able to go back under certain circumstances. I don't know if a possibility like that will be open for me or not."
Why Jon Rahm wants Brooks Koepka deal from PGA Tour
Koepka is the only golfer to this point who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf to then return without having to serve a one-year suspension.
Koepka was reinstated ahead of the 2026 season through the PGA Tour's temporary Returning Member Program for golfers who "have been away from the (PGA) Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or The Open Championship during the 2022-2025 seasons."
Koepka's penalties included not being eligible for any payment from the FedExCup bonus program for the 2026 season or from the player equity program through 2030. He could miss out on approximately $50-85 million in potential equity earnings, according to the PGA Tour, depending on his competitive performance and the Tour's growth. Koepka also agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution to an agreed-upon organization.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp set a deadline for the initial Returning Member Program, and Rahm was among the golfers eligible to apply then through his 2023 win at The Masters. Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith also could have applied for reinstatement to go back to the PGA Tour based on their recent major wins. Rolapp has indicated the program was a one-time offer and not on the table anymore.
Rahm was nonetheless asked directly on Tuesday if he would take that deal now.
"Most likely, yeah. Why not? Yeah, but it's a big if," Rahm said. "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."
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed had to serve a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour that ended last August and sought reinstatement through the tour's past champion exemption. He played this past year on the DP World Tour and his strong performances helped elevate his status when he returns to the PGA Tour in 2027.
Rahm recognizes a one-year detour back on the DP World Tour could be what's in store for him, too.
"If I have to fulfill a one-year suspension, I think it's a pretty good position to be that a worst-case scenario I get to play on a wonderful tour for a whole year," Rahm said. "I will be supporting the Tour, for sure, and even if I get to go and play PGA Tour events, I'll still play European Tour events, as well. I'll play some events that I want to play like I've done in the past and maybe a few more."
Jon Rahm admits he would be open to taking a similar deal to Brooks Koepka in order to return to the @PGATour in 2027.
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) November 3, 2026
(Note, Rahm was offered the same deal in January 2026 but did not accept)
Koepka's deal....
• $5m donation to charity
• No FedEx Cup bonus money in his… pic.twitter.com/ZyNg9pckhz
Jon Rahm breaks down LIV Golf exit
Rahm said he'll reflect positively on his three years spent with LIV Golf, calling it "a wonderful experience."
But he made clear staying on for LIV 2.0 was never a serious option in his first comments since he and LIV Golf parted ways last month.
"As much as I liked the project and the idea of 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," Rahm said. "It wasn't anything special, anything that stood out. I just, I didn't like where they were going with 2.0.
"There were too many unknowns at the time and there's still quite a few," he added. "It seemed like it was going a bit away from team golf and some of the things that made LIV, LIV. It just kind of became more of a regular tour, so yeah, it wasn't really ever much of a consideration, to be honest."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Rahm breaks silence on PGA Tour return, explains LIV Golf exit
