{"id":950971,"date":"2026-11-03T10:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/950971\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T10:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:44:13","slug":"it-wasnt-anything-special-jon-rahm-explains-liv-golf-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/950971\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It Wasn’t Anything Special’ – Jon Rahm Explains LIV Golf Exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jon Rahm<\/a> admitted “it wasn’t really ever much of a consideration” to sign up for the new-look LIV Golf League ahead of his DP World Tour return.<\/p>\n

Rahm is making his first official DP World Tour start since announcing he was leaving LIV Golf<\/a> last month at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship – the opening week of the Play-Offs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During his pre-tournament press conference, the Spaniard was quizzed on exactly why he rejected the chance to continue his career with the team-based circuit following three extremely successful seasons where he won the individual championship each time.<\/p>\n

First acknowledging he enjoyed his time with LIV, Rahm went on to say the league’s future did very little to inspire him like it once did.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old said: “Well, I would say I can only reflect on those three years as a positive. It was a wonderful experience. Played a lot of good golf. Obviously individually and as a team, we did great.<\/p>\n

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“And then, you said why I rejected the terms? 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, right.<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t anything special, anything that stood out. I just, yeah, I didn’t like what they were doing with 2.0.”<\/p>\n

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The exit of the Saudi PIF as LIV’s backers<\/a> has caused a significant knock-on effect for LIV Golf, with new creditors BC Partners attempting to lift a second iteration off the ground in 2027.<\/p>\n

However, Rahm revealed very few details were nailed down ahead of the player-commitment deadline last week and, of those that were, it felt too similar to the tours which are already firmly established.<\/p>\n

He continued: “Too many unknowns at the time and there are still quite a few. It seemed like it was going away from team golf and some of the things that made LIV, LIV.<\/p>\n

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“It just became more of a regular tour. So yeah, it wasn’t really ever much of a consideration to be honest.”<\/p>\n

Now a fully concentrated DP World Tour member once again, Rahm’s immediate future lies with the European circuit as he tries to win this week’s $9 million Rolex Series event in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

The new father of four, who admitted he is very rusty after a long flight from Arizona following the birth of his latest child, will be attempting to jump up from 51st in the Race to Dubai and into the top-50 to ensure he also competes in Dubai.<\/p>\n

On the ninth tee at Yas Links with Jon Rahm \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8
\nThe 10-time DP World Tour winner makes his Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship debut this week.
\n#AbuDhabiChamps https:\/\/t.co\/zXaSWC1M8zNovember 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

After that, 2027 is very much up in the air for the Ryder Cup star. The most likely situation is he spends a full season competing on the DP World Tour given PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated there would not be the same offer sent out<\/a> to returning LIV golfers that Brooks Koepka was given late last year.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Rahm says he will “have a discussion” with PGA Tour bosses to enquire about a possible route back earlier than expected with the safety net of a full campaign on the DP World Tour under him should he be unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

With regards to 2027 and his future plans, Rahm said: “As of right now, I really don’t know what 2027 is going to look like for me, right.<\/p>\n

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\"Jon\n<\/p>\n

Rahm hits a wedge shot during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“So I have yet to have a discussion with the PGA Tour to see if there’s any path back for next year. So I don’t know, as of right now.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Currently looking at the schedule to see how I can organise it to play the events 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.<\/p>\n

“But I haven’t really gone too deeply into it just because there’s still a question mark, right.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Jon\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“Obviously Brooks was able to go back through certain circumstances. I don’t know if the possibility of that would be open for me or not.<\/p>\n

“But 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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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\"Brooks\n<\/p>\n

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour before the 2026 season<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Rahm was among three other players who were offered the chance to make their PGA Tour return prior to the start of the 2026 campaign via the Returning Member Program<\/a> but rejected the deal months before the PIF’s exit from LIV Golf.<\/p>\n

Pushed on whether Rahm would now take the very same deal if offered it again, the former World No.1 admitted his answer would be different this time.<\/p>\n

He said: “Most likely, yeah. Why not? Yeah, but it’s a big if. I seriously doubt I get offered the same deal that Brooks did.<\/p>\n

“But yeah, if I got offered exactly the same penalties at him, I probably would do it, yes.”<\/p>\n