Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith Are Staying With LIV Golf
In a clear reaffirmation of loyalty to the breakaway circuit, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith have each declared their intentions to remain with LIV Golf, despite being eligible for the PGA TOUR’s newly created Returning Members Program (RMP).
The statements came during LIV Golf’s captains press conference on Tuesday, directly following Brooks Koepka’s high-profile return to the PGA TOUR via the same pathway. Both major champions emphasized their commitment to their current teams and the league.
“I made a decision to come here and I stand by it,” said Smith, the 2022 Open Champion and PLAYERS winner. Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, echoed the sentiment: “I’m not planning on going anywhere. I wish Brooks the best, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m focused on my team and the league this year, and hopefully we can repeat as champions.”
The RMP, designed to facilitate the return of eligible players who left for LIV, carries significant financial disincentives. Koepka’s return cost him any Player Equity Program distribution for five years, forfeited his 2026 FedExCup bonus pool share, and required a $5 million charitable donation—conditions that likely influenced Rahm and Smith’s decisions.
The duo have until February 2 to reconsider, but their firm public declarations signal a continued division within the sport’s top ranks and a strengthening of LIV’s core roster as the 2026 season begins.
