LIV Golf continued as normal in Mexico City despite concerns over its future, with Jon Rahm emerging victorious.
Rahm continued his dominance of LIV Golf with his second victory of the season, securing the title on the back of a disappointing week at The Masters.
Advertisement
It was the first LIV Golf tournament since heavy speculation about Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrawing its financial support for the league.
And that would likely lead to LIV Golf being shut down, which means a potential return to the PGA Tour for many of their players.
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed both left before the 2026 season started, but Rex Hoggard has warned that the likes of Rahm and fellow superstar Bryson DeChambeau may find it very difficult to follow suit.
PGA Tour warned about easy Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm returns
Discussing what could happen if LIV Golf folds, Hoggard said on the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex & Lav: “That was why I wanted to talk to Maverick McNealy after his round at RBC Heritage, a member of the PGA Tour policy board.
Advertisement
“His comment to me was that the rules and regulations are already in place. Patrick Reed is taking that pathway.
“I am going to address that pathway first. The first one is clear-cut. And I think the actual quote from Mav said that most of the players from LIV will have to take this pathway, because they don’t have any status on the PGA Tour.
“So you are talking about Q School, doing it on the DP World Tour or the Korn Ferry Tour. Or some combination of all of those. The vast majority of players coming from LIV Golf would have to do it that way.
“The only other option would be the Returning Member Program, which you pointed out, but that was a very narrow list of players.
Advertisement
“Only four players were in that category, with a deadline. It was a one-time deal. From what I was told this was not setting a precedent.
“So actually I am going to be surprised if they reinstate a Returning Member Program, and it would only be for a Bryson, Jon Rahm or a Cam Smith.
“Only because Brian Rolapp was able to sell it to the membership because this is what is best for the Tour and Brooks Koepka was paying a very high price.
“He paid $5 million, he was not exempt from the Signature Events, he was sitting on a bench on Friday morning waiting to get in as first alternate at Harbour Town. He did not get in.
Advertisement
“He was sitting on a bench and did not get in, I do not see Jon Rahm doing that. I think every player on the PGA Tour was fine with that because Brooks took that commitment to sit on that bench.
“However, he also made all of the other fields better. He is in the field this week in New Orleans, playing alongside Shane Lowry, he played the Cognizant.
“He is making these other events better on his way back up the ladder. That’s fantastic. I think everyone bought into this being a good idea.
“I don’t know if they would do it this time around. I think a second bite at the apple would cause a big problem.”
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
Should Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau be allowed to return to the PGA Tour?
It is certainly an intriguing situation for LIV Golf and its players, with the losses of Koepka and Reed representing major blows that they really didn’t need at the start of the season.
Advertisement
The former made a dramatic comeback to the PGA Tour via the new Returning Member Program, while the latter is playing on the DP World Tour ahead of a targeted return in 2027.
PGA Tour CEO Rolapp will now take centre stage in the likely discussions about potential further returns, with no straightforward solution looking possible right now.
And LIV Golf stars Rahm and DeChambeau could come under the spotlight more than most given their status and their ability on the course.
The duo occupy the top two places in the LIV Golf individual standings, while both have won major championships and competed in Ryder Cups in recent years.
Advertisement
It’s clear they would help the PGA Tour attract bigger audiences and indeed increase the competition on the course, which are huge bonuses.
But at the same time many golf fans will be quick to point out that they decided to turn their backs on the PGA Tour in favor of LIV Golf, which clearly hasn’t gone to plan at all.
Read more:
Predicting what will happen to Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson if LIV Golf collapses
Tom Watson strongly disagrees with Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf
Why Bryson DeChambeau has done LIV Golf no favors for the entirety of 2026
Read the full article here