While it may not be the case next year (or even next month), Jon Rahm is currently a LIV Golf player. And this week he has a chance to do something no LIV pro has ever done: win a regular-season PGA Tour event while still playing with LIV.
Since LIV Golf’s founding, its players have been banned from playing in regular PGA Tour events… except for one: the Genesis Scottish Open. For the past few years, the Scottish Open, historically a DP World Tour event, has been co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour.
But the DP World Tour still largely runs the show, which means their rules regarding LIV players apply. And as long as a LIV pro has maintained his DP World Tour membership, and paid fines to keep himself in good standing, he is permitted to compete in the tour’s events.
That’s the loophole Rahm is using to play this week, although in his case things are a little more complicated.
Rahm makes DP World Tour (and PGA Tour) return after settling dispute
While players aren’t automatically banned from the DP World Tour if they sign on with LIV Golf, there are consequences. Among the punishments are fines for playing LIV events in the same week DP World Tour events are being played.
While a host of players have paid the fines to maintain their memberships, Rahm initially did not. Instead, he engaged in a lengthy dispute and appeal with the DP World Tour over the fines.
Had the dispute not been settled, even Rahm’s Ryder Cup eligibility for 2027 would have been at risk. But in May, Rahm and the DP World Tour finally came to an agreement ending the standoff.
“There’s no longer a standoff,” Rahm said that week at the LIV event in Virginia. “We were able to reach an agreement. There was some concessions on both sides. I offered some; they extended an olive branch. Obviously we’ve reached an agreement. That will not be a stress anymore.”
In addition to paying fines, the deal requires Rahm to compete in five DP World Tour events this season.
Which brings us to this week. Now that Rahm is a “member in good standing” on the DP World Tour, he’s playing in the Genesis Scottish Open to prep for next week’s Open Championship.
“God, it’s a lot of fun,” Rahm said on Tuesday in his press conference ahead of the Scottish Open. “It’s great to be here.”
But when asked if this event felt any different given the tours that sanction it, Rahm said no.
“Not really. It’s just another event. Just happy I can, happy that the DP World Tour let me have the opportunity and that I can be here and play what’s not only a great week but a great golf course, great crowd. It’s one of my favorite weeks, so it’s really fun to be here again,” Rahm said Tuesday.
With a win this week, Rahm could add to his career haul of 10 DP World Tour wins. But because the tournament is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, he could also capture a PGA Tour win this week.
If he did, it would represent his 12th PGA Tour win, and his first since 2023 when he won the Genesis Invitational and Masters before leaving for LIV Golf ahead of the 2024 season.
And it wouldn’t be a shock, either. Rahm is the third betting favorite heading into the event, with odds-to-win around +1300.
That result could provide for some awkwardness in the winner’s circle and on the stats sheets come Sunday.
While Rahm could become the first LIV pro to win a regular-season PGA Tour event this week, two LIV pros have already pulled off the feat at the majors.
The PGA Tour doesn’t run any of golf’s four men’s major championships, but the Tour does co-sanction them, and major wins count as PGA Tour wins.
Brooks Koepka, who has since left LIV and rejoined the PGA Tour, won the 2023 PGA Championship as a LIV Golf pro, increasing his career PGA Tour wins to nine. Similarly, Bryson DeChambeau won the 2024 U.S. Open to push his career PGA Tour haul to nine.
