Jon Rahm walked away from a massive payday to leave LIV Golf, but the road back to the PGA Tour just got much steeper. Kevin Kisner, a veteran of the tour, says the Spaniard cannot expect a warm welcome or a free pass into tournaments. The former champion believes the tour’s new rules will force Rahm to climb his way back up the rankings from scratch.
Rahm joined the breakaway league in December 2023 on a deal worth between $300 million and $350 million, per Yahoo Sports. He earned more than $100 million in just three seasons before deciding the new equity-based terms were not worth the risk. Now, he faces a system that offers no shortcuts for players who chose to leave.
The End of Sponsor Exemptions
Kisner made it clear on the Fore Play podcast that Rahm’s fame will not buy him entry into the biggest events. The tour is changing how it handles player access, and the old days of getting in just because you are a star are gone. Kisner noted that the new Championship Series will not offer any sponsor exemptions starting in 2028.
“Yeah, there’s no sponsor exemptions on the Championship Series in ’28. So, it’s not like, Hey, everybody’s just going to let Jon Rahm into every tournament because he’s Jon Rahm,” Kisner said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
This means Rahm cannot simply show up and play. He must qualify through the points list or finish high enough in other events to earn a spot. The financial safety net he left behind will not protect his status on the main tour.
A Long Road Through the Ranks
The path back is not just hard; it is long. Kisner suggested that Rahm might need to spend a full year on the DP World Tour first. After that, he would likely have to drop down to the PGA Tour’s second-tier circuit for another season before returning to the big leagues.
That timeline pushes a potential return to the PGA Tour by two years. The tour CEO, Brian Rolapp, has stated that the organization is built on meritocracy. He told the press that players who left were given a chance to come back during the offseason, but they chose not to take it. Now, the door is locked until they prove they belong.
Other voices in the game agree that the two tours cannot coexist without strict rules. Gary Player, a nine-time major winner, told Sky Sports News that players need to pick one side. He admitted many players needed the money and families to support, but he also said they could not have it both ways.
“But…you can’t have both tours, you can’t do that, it’s not going to be allowed according to the rules, as far as I know,” Player said, according to Yardbarker.
The Price of the Choice
Rahm’s decision came with a steep price tag. According to reports, he abandoned between $100 million and $150 million in extra league funds owed to him. His lawyer told a bankruptcy court that the new terms were unacceptable. Rahm chose to exit rather than accept the new deal, leaving him with a clean break but a messy return path.
Following the resolution of his fines in May, he now competes on the DP World Tour. He rejected a specific offer from the PGA Tour to return as a member in January. Now, with the tour hardening its stance, he must compete for his spot like everyone else.
Kisner believes the tour will stick to its guns. The message to Rahm is simple: go earn your way back. The money he made on LIV will not silence the critics or change the rules. The only way back is through the hard work of winning and finishing in the top 10 on a world tour.
