LIV Golf have made a number of major changes ahead of the 2026 season – and Jon Rahm has just revealed another could be on the way…
Jon Rahm has revealed that LIV Golf plans to double the amount of players relegated from the league in 2026.
The proposal for increased churn in players would be the latest in a series of major changes made by LIV during this offseason, seemingly in a bid to appease the Official World Golf Ranking system and end the league’s plight without ranking points.
After ditching its 54-hole events for the traditional 72-hole format, the league has also increased its field size from 54 to 57 players. And speaking on the Subpar podcast, Rahm divulged LIV’s proposals to generate more jeopardy by widening the Drop Zone from six to 11 slots.
Last year, Henrik Stenson was the highest-profile name to be kicked from the league after finishing in the relegation places. And with close to 20% player turnover and new pathways in to the league, LIV will hope they can eventually attract their own emerging talents rather than luring stars with big signing fees.
“It’s my understanding all of that was a part of it,” Rahm said. “Pathways into the league, so you have people going through the International Series and people going through the Promotions series, and then more people getting relegated so I think we’re going up to 57 players and I think 10 or 11 are getting relegated. So 20 percent basically, or just under.
“I think that’s a lot of the requirements for it to make sense.”
After the blow of Brooks Koepka’s exit, LIV finally being approved world ranking points could help the league retain some of its other big names who are soon out of contract.
“At this point, I think it’s going to happen, but it would be nice to have them sooner than later,” Rahm, who has plummeted to 85th in the rankings since joining LIV as the world No.3 two years ago, added. “Before the majors start so it gives the chance for some people to earn world ranking points.”
Last week, OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman provided a fairly ambiguous update on LIV’s latest application for points.
“Since the end of June, the Governing Board has endeavored to thoroughly evaluate the LIV Golf application,” the former Masters champion said in a statement.
“We remain committed to the OWGR’s mission, which requires honoring the meritocracy woven into the professional game. As such, discussions have been regular and remain ongoing.
“To be clear, progress has been made, but there is no decision to share at this time. We will continue to work closely with LIV Golf as it continues to evolve to ensure its application is handled with fairness, integrity and consistency, as stated previously.”
Rahm also spoke on a number of other topics…
Jon Rahm on… the next European Ryder Cup captain (if it’s not Luke Donald)
“You run into some issues [with] the ecosystem of golf – I don’t think it’s going to be in a place where LIV guys are going to be captains that quickly. The only I would say, [with the 2027 Ryder Cup] being in Ireland, Graeme McDowell would make sense.
“But when you’ve been a little removed from the DP World Tour and the core of the players and the young players. There’s an effort the captain needs to do to go and see all the prospects and continue to play throughout the years and have a relationship and communication. It’s going to be hard.
“If there’s a chance it’s maybe for 2031 for Sergio [Garcia] because there’s enough time if things get better. But I don’t know. I think Justin Rose still wants to play. He’ll be a great captain but he wants to play.
“I’d say Francesco Molinari looks good. He’s been a part of the vice-captaincy with Luke. His brother is in charge of stats.”
Jon Rahm on… his fines situation with the DP World Tour
“I don’t believe that [2025] was my last Ryder Cup. Do I think fines are going to magically disappear? I don’t know, I don’t think so. But I think it’s going to slowly go away. I still don’t agree with the fines, I don’t know the exact number but I know it’s between €1 [million] and €1.5 million each year. So €3 million for me.
“The one thing for me about the fines is the tournaments I’m getting fined for not playing [are ones that] I’ve never played and I will never play. I never played them when I was on the PGA Tour and I would probably never play them in the future either because it was just not part of the schedule when I would play.
“Besides last year in January, I’ve not played until the end of the year when you have Irish Open, Wentworth, Spanish Open, etc. To be fined for events I’ve never been to seems a bit silly to me.”
Jon Rahm on… Brooks Koepka’s decision to leave LIV Golf
“I had an idea but more through him than the league itself. I don’t know what happened but I know he was dealing with some stuff off the golf course. I saw they made an announcement about a miscarriage. Luckily I can’t say what that feels like but I don’t wish it on anybody. I wish him the best.
“I’ve had some great times with Brooks on the golf course, the ’23 Masters I won, we had [LIV] Greenbrier, going at it at the Ryder Cup a few times. He’s always fun to play with. [A] fast, honest guy.
“I wish he was staying and I could keep playing with him but hopefully we can compete for other events or majors in the future.”
