In a seismic shift that redefines the landscape of professional golf, major champion Jon Rahm and fiery Ryder Cup star Tyrell Hatton have officially resigned from the LIV Golf League, signaling a monumental and unexpected return to the PGA Tour, sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
The dual announcement, which comes just months after Rahm’s own record-breaking defection to the Saudi-backed circuit, sends shockwaves through the sport and marks the most significant reversal in the ongoing, billion-dollar feud between the established Tour and the disruptive LIV enterprise.
According to documents filed with the PGA Tour, both players have formally relinquished their memberships with LIV Golf and have applied for reinstatement to the Tour. The applications are currently under review, but sources indicate a swift approval is expected, clearing the path for their return as early as next week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, an event both have played in previously.
The motivations behind the stunning about-face are complex, but sources close to Rahm point to a profound sense of competitive disillusionment. Despite a signing fee reported to be in the range of $450-600 million, the 2023 Masters champion is said to have grown increasingly frustrated with the 54-hole, no-cut format, the limited field strength, and a perceived lack of gravitas at LIV events.
“Jon is a golfer who feeds off history, legacy, and the relentless pressure of a Sunday afternoon on the PGA Tour,” said one source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The team element and the guaranteed money, in the end, couldn’t replace the feeling of winning a tournament that Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus won, or battling in a major-like atmosphere week-in, week-out. He missed the arena.”
For Hatton, who joined Rahm’s “Legion XIII” team in a move seen as following his Ryder Cup teammate, the decision was reportedly more straightforward. Known for his passionate, win-at-all-costs demeanor, the Englishman never seemed a natural fit for LIV’s more exhibition-style environment. The lack of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which has caused his world ranking to plummet from inside the top 15 to outside the top 100, was a significant and persistent concern.
The ramifications of this move are immense and multi-layered.
First, it deals a catastrophic blow to LIV Golf’s credibility. Losing its highest-profile, in-their-prime acquisition in Rahm—a player touted as the future of the league—undermines the narrative of LIV’s inevitable growth and irreversibility. It raises immediate questions about the stability of other star players and the league’s long-term viability, potentially triggering an exodus of other disgruntled talent.
Second, it dramatically strengthens the PGA Tour’s hand. As the Tour continues its fraught negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) on a potential framework agreement, the return of two of LIV’s biggest names serves as a powerful demonstration of the Tour’s enduring appeal. It proves that even astronomical financial offers cannot, for some players, replace the competitive ecosystem and historical significance of the Tour.
Third, it reshapes the Ryder Cup landscape. Both Rahm and Hatton were integral parts of the victorious European team in Rome in 2023. Their departure from the DP World Tour (a PGA Tour ally) had put their future participation in the biennial contest in serious jeopardy due to eligibility rules. Their return to the fold immediately reinstates them as central figures for Team Europe heading into Bethpage Black in 2025, a massive boost for Captain Luke Donald.
The financial mechanics of their return remain unclear. While they likely had to repay significant portions of their upfront signing bonuses, their return to the PGA Tour does not come with a formal penalty. However, they will be subject to the Tour’s new “Reinstatement and Discipline” guidelines, which could involve fines and mandatory participation in certain “elevated” events as a condition of their return.
The golf world is now left to process this stunning reversal. Social media has erupted with reactions from fellow pros, with many PGA Tour players posting celebratory messages, while the atmosphere within the LIV Golf organization is described as “shell-shocked.”
One thing is certain: the power struggle in professional golf has entered a new, unpredictable chapter. The defection of Jon Rahm was once seen as a checkmate move for LIV. Today, his return, with Tyrell Hatton in tow, feels like a king reclaiming his throne, leaving the future of the sport’s great schism more uncertain than ever.
