Well, it was quite a shock when Jon Rahm joined the breakaway circuit. After all, he was once not a fan of the 54-hole format and denied the rumors when it sprung up. But the alleged $500 million contract was thrown out, and the Spaniard jumped the ships. It has been nine months and the 2-time major champion has won the Individual Championship of LIV Golf and bagged nearly $35 million in the 2024 season.

Now, he has returned to the DP World Tour to play at the Open de Espana and play the four events to keep his European card. Well, he had lost the PGA Tour playing privileges the day he signed the LIV Golf contract, but despite the fines on the DP World Tour, he can still tee up there.

So, before the Spanish Open started at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, the LIV golfer was asked about the PIF-PGA Tour merger and what he expected to be the outcome of the deal. Talking about the agreement he wanted the parties to finalize, Rahm said, “One that allows us to play freely between the Tours and enjoy the game of golf.”

The Spaniard gave an example of his potential schedule if the deal was struck and revealed that he would like to play the Farmers Insurance Open and the AmEx in January, and after completing the LIV Golf season, continue on the DP World Tour in the fall without any problems.

He was also more vocal about the largely delayed merger between the PGA Tour and PIF and optimistically said, “There’s been a big step forward made.” Although neither the PGA Tour nor PIF have released any kind of statement regarding the agreement that Rahm shed light on. And that might not be possible as the Spaniard once himself revealed why.

Jon Rahm’s U-turn from previous stance

Once Jon Rahm’s statement on eagerness to play the PGA Tour events went viral on social media, various standpoints were afloat and one was shared by No Laying Up. They posted a snippet from the podcast released on January 18th, 2023, where Rahm was talking about the possibility of LIV Golf pros being allowed to play on the PGA Tour and the disruptive league. Firstly, the Spaniard explained that he did not want the PGA Tour pros to play on the LIV Golf in the fall or at other times.

Additionally, he added that he did not see a way that players could bounce between the leagues and play one event here and another at LIV. He gave an example and said, “We are finishing the TOUR Championship and tomorrow I’m part of the HyFlyers [GC].” Then, he dropped the bomb and said, “I think you should make a choice” between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Why did Rahm think like that? He explained that it was not a possibility that the breakaway circuit golfers could double dip between the tours.

He further relayed that the golfer signs an exclusive deal with the PGA Tour, and although it is a bit problematic, they own right to the image of the pro. Thus, only if the PGA Tour gives permission, its golfers could tee up at any other event which per Rahm was then fully in the right. And he reiterated, “I don’t necessarily think that you should be able to do both… Double dipping and doing both, just to me doesn’t seem like it’s the right thing to do.”

But that’s what Rahm wants to do now. And it has stunned many in the golf world that the 2-time major winner has taken the biggest U-turn. Although as Rahm previously stated, it might still not be a possibility that he would be allowed to play in the PGA Tour again even if a merger is finalized between the PGA Tour and PIF. However, his statement on double dipping was before Jay Monahan announced the merger in June 2023. It is a possibility that after the merger’s announcement, Rahm had a change of heart but the PGA Tour has not.