PGA Tour issues Jon Rahm verdict ahead of Genesis Scottish Open return

A PGA Tour spokesperson has confirmed to GolfMagic that Jon Rahm will “remain ineligible for PGA Tour membership” even if he wins the Genesis Scottish Open in July.

The LIV Golf superstar is set to tee it up at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian from 9-12 July, as first reported by GOLF’s Sean Zak. 

It will mark Rahm's first appearance in a co-sanctioned PGA Tour event since joining LIV Golf at the end of 2023. 

“Interesting schedule news: Jon Rahm will play the Scottish Open in July, the fifth event he agreed to play to maintain DPWT membership,” Zak posted via X on Monday. 

“Would be fascinating to see what happens in the event he wins... a PGA Tour event, as a LIV golfer and member of DPWT.”

Exclusive: Jon Rahm will remain ineligible on PGA Tour even if he wins Scottish Open

While the Genesis Scottish Open is jointly sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, GolfMagic has had it confirmed Rahm’s participation will not alter his current status with the American circuit even if he goes on to win the tournament on Sunday 12 July. 

A victory on the PGA Tour would typically come with a number of perks, such as a two-year exemption and in the case of the Scottish Open, a total of 500 FedEx Cup points. 

While some fans have speculated on social media how a victory on the links might potentially trigger a reversal of his suspension, the PGA Tour has made its stance crystal clear.

Should Rahm lift silverware in Scotland, he would still “remain ineligible for PGA Tour membership”, a spokesperson confirmed.

The two-time major champion has been suspended from the PGA Tour ever since he played in his first LIV Golf event at Mayakoba in February 2024. 

Rahm reportedly joined LIV Golf on a multi-year deal worth more than $300m. 

All LIV players who are still members of the PGA Tour remain banned indefinitely. 

The Genesis Scottish Open takes place a week before The Open at Royal Birkdale. 

Patrick Reed will also be making his long-awaited return to PGA Tour action at The Renaissance Club.

While the same process applies to Reed, who quit LIV Golf earlier this season, he will officially be eligible to return to the PGA Tour circuit once his suspension ends in August. 

The former Masters champion is taking full advantage of his honorary lifetime membership of the DP World Tour this season. 

Rahm's schedule update comes two weeks after he resolved a long-running dispute with the DP World Tour regarding fines handed to LIV Golf players who competed in breakaway events without official releases. 

His anticipated Scottish Open appearance will represent the additional tournament commitment required for him to maintain his DP World Tour membership this season, and more importantly, keep his Ryder Cup hopes alive for Adare Manor in September 2027. 

It will mark Rahm's first start at the Scottish Open since he finished tied 55th in 2022. 

The former world number one was offered the chance to follow in the footsteps of Brooks Koepka and return to the PGA Tour earlier this season under a one-time only “Returning Membership” program. 

However, Rahm opted to remain with LIV Golf this season alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, who were also afforded the chance of a return to the PGA Tour. 

Rahm currently captains Legion XIII, featuring his European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt.

The Spaniard's schedule update comes 24 hours after he finished runner-up to Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship at Aronimink. 

Rahm closed with a 68 to finish tied second on six-under par alongside Alex Smalley, while Rai became the first Englishman in more than a century to win the PGA Championship.

The tie for second marked Rahm's best ever result at the PGA Championship. 

Despite missing out on a third career major title, one that would have taken him to within one leg of the career grand slam, Rahm has taken consolation from vaulting up to 12th in the world — his best position in two years. 

Ahead of the second major of the season, Rahm faced fresh questions over his LIV Golf future in light of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirming it will no longer finance the league past this season. 

PIF has pumped an estimated $5 billion into LIV Golf from the outset in 2022. 

Rahm has dismissed concerns surrounding both his and LIV Golf’s future, claiming: “My job is to play golf, luckily. I'm decent at it, and that's what I can focus on.” 

The 31-year-old will return to competitive action at LIV Golf Korea next week, before touching down on home soil at Andalucia in the first week of June. 

Rahm will then turn his attention to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills from 18-21 June.

He won his first career major title at the 2021 U.S Open at Torrey Pines.