Patrick Reed drops blunt truth on Jon Rahm's PGA Tour return

Jon Rahm admitted he would likely accept the same conditions given to Brooks Koepka — including significant financial contributions and restrictions — after turning down the Returning Member Program earlier in 2026.

The two-time major champion made the comment during a press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Rahm confirmed he has left LIV Golf after three seasons with the Saudi-backed league.

He is now planning to compete on the DP World Tour next season.

But he has not ruled out returning to the PGA Tour, where he enjoyed enormous success before leaving in December 2023.

The PGA Tour introduced the Returning Member Program earlier this year to enable Brooks Koepka to come back following his own departure from LIV.

Koepka accepted several financial and competitive conditions, including a $5 million charitable contribution and restrictions on certain PGA Tour benefits.

The offer was also extended to Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and Jon Rahm.

The trio ended up staying put.

Now Rahm's position has changed.

"I seriously doubt I get offered the same deal that Brooks did," Rahm said.

"But yeah, if I got offered exactly the same penalties as him, I probably would do it, yes."

The admission is striking because Rahm rejected the same pathway just months ago.

In January 2026, Rahm was offered an opportunity to return through the Returning Member Program.

He turned it down and remained with LIV Golf for the rest of the season.

Now that LIV Golf appears to be edging closer to folding, Rahm is looking for a way back.

But the PGA Tour may not be willing to reopen the door.

Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour's executive vice president, has recently suggested that the tour has no plans to open up that pathway again.

This leaves Rahm in a precarious position.

As things stand, he looks set to play on the DP World Tour next year while he serves a suspension from the PGA Tour.

The suspension is standard for players who left the tour for LIV Golf without a release.

Rahm spent three seasons with LIV Golf, joining in December 2023 after winning the Masters that same year.

He has not played a PGA Tour event since then.

Now he wants to come back, but the rules may not bend for him.

Patrick Reed, who also left LIV Golf earlier this year, has weighed in on the debate.

Reed has already secured his PGA Tour status for 2027 after producing several good results on the DP World Tour.

Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship, the 36-year-old American was asked whether he would have a problem if Rahm received permission to return without serving a one-year suspension.

"That's a hard question," Reed said.

"I definitely feel like it's something that they are going to be looking into. How they do it is up to them. But I've always been a firm believer that if you've earned the right to play, and you qualify, you can play anywhere."

Reed acknowledged that Rahm's resume is impressive.

"Obviously with Jon's resume and everything, it's one of those that obviously his team is going to be talking about the PGA Tour," Reed said.

"I've always enjoyed playing with Jon. I've always been a firm believer that if you earned the right to play somewhere, you can go and play. We'll just have to wait and see."

Reed's stance is clear: qualification should determine eligibility, not special deals.

His own experience proves that returning through standard competitive pathways is possible.

Following his departure from LIV Golf in August 2025, Reed completed a suspension before returning to competition on the DP World Tour.

He climbed to number two in the standings and earned his PGA Tour card for the upcoming season without a special exemption.

Taylor Zarzour, a golf commentator, has suggested that the PGA Tour should resist the temptation to bring Rahm back immediately.

Speaking on 5 Clubs on Wednesday, Zarzour said he would love to see the PGA Tour force Rahm to spend next year on the DP World Tour.

"I think it's up to him," Zarzour said.

"I think if he goes to Ponte Vedra and sits down with Brian Rolapp and he shows that he absolutely has to be on the PGA Tour in 2027, I would imagine they might carve out a possible path for him. It probably would be even more penal than what Brooks Koepka had this past year."

"But I almost hope he doesn't do that," Zarzour added.

"I almost hope that the PGA Tour hopes he doesn't do that. And the reason I say that is because I would love to see the PGA Tour say, you know what guys, we're not going to do that in 2027, we have a partnership with the DP World Tour. They have an opportunity to have the best year they've ever had in terms of fields, in a Ryder Cup year, let's throw a bone to our partners on the DP World Tour and let Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, all these studs that have come over from LIV, let's let them play on the DP World Tour and they'll work their way back to the PGA Tour once we've established the new two levels of it in 2028."

"This is the ultimate bridge year," Zarzour said.

"The ratings on the PGA Tour are great. I'm not saying you don't want Jon Rahm long term. You do, but for one year, I think the PGA Tour..."

The debate highlights the ongoing tension between the PGA Tour and the players who previously joined the Saudi-backed league.

Rahm won the 2021 US Open and the 2023 Masters.