Jon Rahm Set for Abu Dhabi Championship on DP World Tour

Just last week, Jon Rahm clarified that he would not join LIV 2.0. Now, the two-time major champion is preparing for his first start since departing the league he entered in late 2023.

Rahm has committed to compete in next month’s Abu Dhabi Championship, the penultimate event of the DP World Tour season. This announcement follows a significant anti‑LIV decision by the tour.

The following details outline the situation.

Jon Rahm to Compete in Abu Dhabi Championship on DP World Tour

During LIV Golf’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, Rahm’s counsel indicated that the proposed terms were unacceptable and that he would not participate in LIV 2.0 in 2027.

With his LIV Golf career abruptly ended and a rapid return to the PGA Tour unattainable, Rahm’s sole feasible plan is to compete full‑time on the DP World Tour; the timing remained uncertain.

Now, Rahm is officially slated for his first start since leaving LIV Golf. The 2023 Masters champion is expected to compete at the Abu Dhabi Championship, scheduled for November 5‑8 at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

This will mark Rahm’s first appearance as a non‑LIV Golf competitor since November 2023. In December of that year, he astonished the golf world by announcing his move to LIV Golf for the 2024 season, reportedly receiving $350 million in guaranteed payment. Although the exact amount he has received remains undisclosed, he is listed as the primary creditor in LIV’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Rahm captured LIV’s season‑long individual championship in each of his three years in the league. Throughout that period, he also competed on the DP World Tour, participating in three non‑major events this season—the Scottish Open, the Irish Open, and the BMW PGA Championship—while missing last week’s Open de Espana as he and his wife, Kelley, await the arrival of their fourth child.

Although he has amassed ten DP World Tour victories, Rahm has not won a tournament since joining LIV. His most recent DP World Tour‑sanctioned win was the 2023 Masters, and his latest non‑major European victory occurred at the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.

Although Rahm announced his departure from LIV last week, a development this week may have compelled him to act sooner rather than later.

On Monday, the DP World Tour declared that any player signing with LIV 2.0 will be barred from competing in DP World Tour events throughout the 2027 season. Consequently, many LIV players can no longer contemplate dual participation; they must now elect a single path—either LIV 2.0 or the DP World/PGA Tours.

Additionally, any player who joins LIV 2.0 will forfeit their DP World Tour membership, rendering them ineligible for selection on the European Ryder Cup team.

These circumstances are unlikely to be viable options for players such as Rahm.

Regarding the timing and venue of Rahm’s second post‑LIV start after Abu Dhabi, the following week is a strong possibility. Rahm, a three‑time champion of the season‑ending DP World Tour Championship, is expected to begin that event on November 12 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

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