Rahm Explains LIV Exit As He Returns To DP World Tour In Abu Dhabi

Jon Rahm has detailed why he walked away from LIV Golf's next chapter, speaking ahead of his first DP World Tour appearance since confirming his exit last month.

The two-time major champion is playing the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, the opening event of the Play-Offs, having spent three seasons with LIV in which he won the individual championship each time.

Asked directly why he rejected the terms on offer, Rahm told reporters the problem was not any single sticking point but the overall direction of the revamped league.

"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," he said.

"It wasn't anything special, anything that stood out. I just, yeah, I didn't like what they were doing with 2.0," he added.

The comments come against the backdrop of the Saudi PIF's departure as LIV's backer, with new creditors BC Partners now working to launch a second version of the league in 2027.

Rahm said little had been confirmed before the player-commitment deadline passed last week, and what had emerged felt indistinguishable from tours that already exist.

"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," he said, adding that it had "just became more of a regular tour" and so "wasn't really ever much of a consideration to be honest".

According to GolfMagic, as reported by Yahoo Sports, Sergio Garcia and Tyrrell Hatton are among several high-profile players who have also turned down the 2.0 proposal.

Rahm's departure is notable given he was LIV's most significant signing at the end of 2023, yet he insists the switch away from team golf has not soured his memory of the project.

"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," he said.

On the prospect of rejoining the PGA Tour, Rahm indicated he is prepared to serve the same sanction applied to previous defectors, telling reporters a one-year suspension would not deter him from returning to the circuit, Yahoo Sports reported.

That penalty would mirror the ban served by Brooks Koepka, who returned to the PGA Tour after a comparable period away.

For now, Rahm's focus is squarely on the DP World Tour, where he sits 51st in the Race to Dubai and is targeting the $9 million Rolex Series event in Abu Dhabi this week.

The 31-year-old, who became a father of four following the recent birth of his latest child, said he arrived in the Middle East rusty after a long flight from Arizona.

His immediate task is to climb back up the Race to Dubai standings as the Play-Offs begin, with the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship offering the first chance to do so.