Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith Commit to LIV Golf, Turn Down PGA Tour Path Back

Despite the PGA Tour creating a “Returning Member Program” to welcome select major champions back — a route recently used by Brooks Koepka — three major winners eligible for reinstatement have opted to stick with LIV Golf. Rahm stated he is focused on his team’s success, DeChambeau cited contractual commitments through 2026, and Smith emphasized loyalty to his team and the league’s progress, particularly in Australia. Their choices highlight contrasting views within professional golf about the value of LIV’s model versus the traditional tour, even as the broader landscape continues to evolve.

Stars Reaffirm Loyalty to LIV Golf

Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, made it clear he has no intention of leaving LIV Golf despite being eligible to return to the PGA Tour under its new reinstatement pathway. Standing alongside his peers at a LIV Golf preseason event, Rahm stressed that his focus remains on defending titles and competing with his current team, dismissing speculation about a tour switch.

For Bryson DeChambeau, the decision was shaped largely by existing contractual obligations. The 2024 U.S. Open champion noted that his commitment to LIV runs through the 2026 season, expressing enthusiasm for what lies ahead and choosing to concentrate on success within the league. While his long-term future beyond that remains open to discussion, DeChambeau’s priority for now is clear: compete where he is currently signed.

Smith Embraces Team and League Growth

Australian major winner Cameron Smith also dismissed the PGA Tour’s overture, saying he feels fully committed to LIV Golf and proud of his role as a team captain. Smith emphasized his contentment with his environment, highlighting the sense of community and the league’s development, especially with its growing footprint in Australia. His remarks reflect an optimistic view of LIV’s future prospects — even as debate continues about the sport’s biggest stages.

Smith’s stance underscores how personal and professional priorities vary among elite players navigating the split landscape of modern professional golf. For him, stability and team bonds in LIV outweigh uncertainty over a return to the PGA Tour, at least for now.

PGA Tour’s One-Time Return Offer Still Active

The PGA Tour’s newly established reinstatement pathway is available to players who have won a major championship or The Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. Eligible players, including Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith, have until a February deadline to apply for reinstatement if they choose to transition back. The policy represents a rare opening in the PGA Tour’s previously closed door toward players who defected to LIV Golf.

The reinstatement deal carries significant consequences: those who return must forfeit opportunities in the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Program and meet conditions that could affect earnings and status. Such penalties have likely influenced some players’ decisions to stay put, highlighting the financial and competitive calculus at play as professional golf’s two major circuits coexist.

Implications for Golf’s Competitive Landscape

The steadfast decisions by Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith suggest that LIV Golf continues to hold strong appeal for top talent, even in the face of opportunities to rejoin the PGA Tour. Their choices will shape how fans and sponsors view the ongoing rivalry between the leagues, with each player’s path signaling broader trends in loyalty, competition and commercial dynamics.

As the February deadline approaches, eyes will remain on these and other players potentially weighing their options. Whether any will change course before then is one of the sport’s most intriguing off-course storylines, with ramifications likely to echo throughout the 2026 season and beyond.