LIV Golf: Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith reject PGA Tour return to stay with Saudi Arabia-backed series

Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith have all indicated they will remain with LIV Golf rather than rejoin the PGA Tour.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was recently accepted back into the US circuit after leaving the Saudi Arabia-backed series to prioritize his “family’s needs”.

The PGA then opened the door for fellow major winners Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith to follow Koepka under a new returning members program open until February 2.

But the trio have since quashed the possibility of a return at a LIV Golf leaders press conference.

Rahm, 31, said he “wishes the best for Brooks” but “isn’t planning on going anywhere.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m focused on this year’s LIV and I hope my team can repeat as champions,” the Spaniard said.

American DeChambeau said he was “contracted until 2026” and was “very excited about this year” while fellow Australian Smith, 32, added that he had “made up his mind” and would be “at LIV for years to come”.

Only players who missed the PGA Tour for at least two years and won the Players Championship or a major between 2022-25 were eligible to return under the terms of the PGA initiative.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp explained that the program would only be open for the 2026 campaign and was “a response to a unique set of circumstances.”

“This is a specific, one-time window that does not set a precedent for future situations,” Rolapp said in an open letter.

“Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.”