Jon Rahm is set to leave LIV Golf after the breakaway league was rocked by the financial withdrawal of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). LIV has secured fresh funding after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but Rahm appears unwilling to compete in the new-look league.
During a LIV bankruptcy hearing, his lawyer John Beck stated that the Spanish golfer had “independently reviewed the terms of LIV 2.0 and determined those terms are unacceptable as to him.” Rahm previously claimed 11 PGA victories, including his US Open and Masters triumphs, before controversially joining LIV in December 2023. The 31-year-old has since won four LIV events and secured three consecutive season-long individual titles.
Returning Member Program
Earlier this year, the two-time major winner was one of several LIV stars given the chance to be reinstated by the PGA under the Returning Member Program, but declined the offer, unlike Brooks Koepka. As Rahm now looks to leave LIV, golfers on the PGA Tour have previously given their thoughts on those looking to return to the circuit.
Rory McIlroy's stance has fluctuated over the years, having initially pushed hard against LIV before becoming more open to players returning. However, he recently issued a warning to those who did not accept the same offer made to Koepka.
“I'm not part of the discussions but I'm pretty sure they aren't going to be welcomed back straight away,” McIlroy said in August. “They were offered this Returning Member Program back in February, the one Brooks took, but that has come and gone and I think it was said at the time that the deal they get going forward if they decide to come back would not be as good as the one Brooks got. So I'd say it will be a tough road back.”
Fitzpatrick and Woods take hard line
English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick made his position emphatically clear, even before Rahm switched to LIV. The 32-year-old rallied against the idea that LIV stars should be permitted to rejoin the PGA at any point.
“My personal view is that you can't have your cake and eat it,” Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports in March 2023. “I would not let people come back if they had gone to LIV, I just wouldn't.” He added: “I think it is incredibly unfair for the PGA Tour to do that [allow them back] and I would be staggered if they did allow them.”
The former US Open champion also felt that Tiger Woods would share his feelings on the matter. When discussing the subject, Fitzpatrick said: “I think if you spoke to Tiger Woods then he would probably have the same stance, although I don't know what other guys would have.”
Woods was part of the process that led to the creation of the Returning Member Program, which allowed Koepka to rejoin. He made his feelings clear about why offers were made for a select few to return to the PGA if they wished when discussing Koepka's decision.
“As far as his integration, he has the right in our sport, with our meritocracy that we have on the PGA Tour, that he has the right to earn his way into Signature Events, and if he plays well enough, he has a chance to earn his way into the play-offs,” Woods said in January. “But he's not going to get the bonus pool from that. But he has a chance to earn his way into those fields.
“Plus on top of that, he's not taking a spot away from any player. That was one of the main concerns and one of the big things that myself and the other player directors demanded, that that was never going to be the case.
“We get a probably top-three-of-his-generation player back that went to another tour, played over there, and was adamant about coming back here and got out early to come back. That says a lot about the PGA Tour, where we're headed, what we have done, what we accomplished and the players who have stayed and who have supported the Tour.”
Mixed views among stars
Two-time major winner Justin Thomas was more open to LIV stars returning but argued for barriers to be put in place. The 33-year-old wished to test himself against the strongest field possible but did not want those who signed up to the breakaway to avoid consequences for their actions.
“I'm not necessarily super adamant one way or the other. I want the best product and the best players,” Thomas explained in February 2024. “I would say that there's a handful of players on LIV that would make the tour a better place, but I'm definitely not in the agreement that they should just be able to come back that easily.”
He continued: “I would have a hard time with it, and I think a lot of guys would have a hard time with it, and I'm sure we don't need to convince you why we would have a hard time with it. I think there's a scenario somewhere, whatever it is, down the road of some version of some guys being back, but when and what that is, I have no idea.”
The world No.1 Scottie Scheffler took a similar view to Thomas after it emerged that LIV's future was in doubt earlier this year. While Scheffler hoped to compete against some of LIV's star names more regularly, he also called on the PGA to dish out punishments to those returning.
“So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties. What those are, I'll let [PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp] and all those guys figure it out,” Scheffler said in August. “We have great leadership within the Tour now. But I think having those guys come back and competing with whatever happens with LIV, whether those guys want to leave, I mean, you got to ask them.
“I think for me being able to compete against the best players in the world there's certainly some guys on that Tour that can compete out here and I look forward to the chance to compete with them more often.”
Rickie Fowler has taken a diplomatic approach throughout the PGA-LIV split. Although he remained with the PGA, the 37-year-old was open to seeing how aspects of the breakaway league could improve the tour but believed golfers should still face repercussions for their actions.
“As far as decisions to go elsewhere and just welcome back, I don't think it's a direct road,” Fowler said in 2024. “I mean, they made decisions and there's - there has to be something for it. Whether how small or big, that's not up to me.”
Jordan Spieth pointed to the Returning Member Program when discussing LIV players returning to the PGA. The three-time major winner believed each situation would be different but admitted to being unsure what the process would entail.
“I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it should be the same for everyone,” Spieth said in April. “I know olive branches were given out, you know, a couple months ago. Brooks [Koepka] took 'em up on it. So I'm not sure what would now change.”
