Wind and rain swept the Irish coastline as Jon Rahm returned to the Irish Open for the first time since 2019. The Spaniard arrived at Doonbeg with memories of past victories and questions about his future in professional golf, as well as the fate of the league he joined in 2024.
A three-time season-long individual champion on the LIV circuit, Rahm addressed the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf ahead of this week’s tournament, particularly after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew financial support. "To be fair, for us people that joined LIV, I’m pretty good at dealing with turbulence," Rahm told reporters. Pressed on his future with the tour, he was non-committal: "We’ll see what happens." The Legion XIII team captain added, "There’s a lot of things in place, right? There’s a lot of things that could happen and it’s one of those things where time’s gonna tell."
LIV Season Cut Short and Players Weigh Options
LIV Golf’s 2026 season ended ahead of schedule after the team championship in Detroit was cancelled. Last month, LIV announced it was "scaling back operations," leading to layoffs at the start of September. Those abrupt changes have raised fresh questions about the league’s future and the options facing its biggest stars.
Rahm’s team-mate, Tyrrell Hatton, has expressed confidence that the LIV circuit will return next year. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, however, have left LIV to pursue a route back to the PGA Tour. Asked whether he could rejoin the PGA Tour, Rahm said only, "We’ll see what happens," declining to offer specifics.
Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are among the top players whose 2027 schedules have drawn speculation. The PGA Tour is expected to shift its competitive model in 2028, introducing "Champions Series" events that offer major incentives for players to qualify. For Rahm, qualification for those events would likely require a return to the DP World Tour and possibly the PGA Tour as soon as possible.
One commentator said, "I think Jon will be DP World Tour next year, and then hopefully some PGA Tour events here and there… I just don’t think it would go over well with the other players if they just immediately let him roll into the PGA Tour in ’27." The current agreement allowing LIV players like Rahm and Hatton to play on the DP World Tour is set to expire at the end of this season.
Rahm Returns to Irish Open with History in Sight
Rahm’s focus this week is the course. The 31-year-old previously won the Irish Open in 2017 and 2019, and he is seeking a third title to match his compatriot Seve Ballesteros. Despite the challenging weather conditions on Ireland’s west coast, Rahm appeared relaxed. "Just trying to get comfortable," he said of his preparation. He recalled that even when his game felt off in practice at previous Irish Opens, he found a way to win once competition began.
After the Irish Open, Rahm is scheduled to compete at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the flagship event of the DP World Tour. The two-time major winner is focused on his performance as the landscape around him shifts.
Rahm captured two titles during the 2026 LIV season and finished tied for second at the USPGA Championship in May.
