Ever since LIV Golf reapplied for OWGR-eligible tour status in June 2025, the league has undergone several changes. But Jon Rahm has confirmed that there’s more to come. Notably, the league is constantly trying to align with OWGR eligibility requirements. Speaking on the SubPar podcast with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, Rahm said that adjustments are already in motion.

“It’s my understanding all of that was a part of it. Pathways into the league, so you have people going through The International Series and people going through the Promotions, which is qualifying sort of like Q School. 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% basically or just under,” Rahm said.

This hints that LIV is reshaping its competitive model to satisfy ranking requirements. A major part of that shift centers on how golfers enter and exit the league. Henrik Stenson, Andy Ogletree, Mito Pereira, Yubin Jang, Anthony Kim, and Frederik Kjettrup were the six LIV golfers relegated in 2025. This season, the number will move from six to 10 or 11, as Rahm confirmed.

The Spaniard is confident that LIV Golf can get the eligibility status. And if it is to happen, he wants the league to get the eligibility status before the Masters.

“I mean, if it were to happen, because I can’t guarantee anything. At this point, I think it’s going to happen, but it would be nice to have them sooner than later obviously. Before the majors start so it gives the chance for some people to earn world ranking points,” Jon Rahm mentioned on the SubPar podcast, as reported by Flushing It Golf through an X post.

One of the biggest criticisms the Saudi-backed league faced was its closed roster. It was also highlighted in the statement released by the OWGR after rejecting LIV’s initial application in 2023. After learning from past mistakes, LIV’s new CEO, Scott O’Neil, has added more spots for merit-based winners. Instead of one, two leaders of the Asia’s Order of Merit will get a contract with LIV. Additionally, there are three wild-card spots open for the top three finishers in the LIV Promotions Event 2026.

LIV Golf has already undergone many other changes, including a switch from its standard 54-hole format to a more traditional 72-hole format. While appreciated by many LIV golfers, the move drew criticism from some pros, including Rory McIlroy. McIlroy said that the move is peculiar as LIV is aligning with the model it once criticized.

But unlike the Northern Irishman, Jon Rahm said that these changes make a lot of sense to get the OWGR points.

“So, I think that’s a lot of the requirements for it to make sense,” the LIV golfer said.

But even if LIV gets OWGR status, Smylie Kaufman feels that Jon Rahm is still in a tough spot in LIV.

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Smylie Kaufman’s warning for Jon Rahm after Brooks Koepka’s exit

Brooks Koepka has left LIV Golf. Although his contract was set to run through 2026, he has chosen to step aside. Both Scott O’Neil and Koepka said that the golfer wants to spend more time with his family. Retired PGA Tour pro Smylie Kaufman believes that this further dilutes the strength of the LIV Golf field.

“He is in the worst spot you could possibly be because he signed later,” Smylie Kaufman said on The Smylie Show.

The retired pro says that Rahm joined the league later, which means that his contract will run for a longer period of time. And with Koepka gone, there are only a few elite golfers remaining in the LIV field. As such, even if LIV gets OWGR status, the points rewarded could be much less because of the weak field.

Analysts argue that without more top players, LIV’s efforts to improve field quality may perish. Thus, securing official world ranking points will face headwinds. The league’s push to evolve its format and attract stronger talent is now more pressing as star departures continue to impact perception and competition.

Whether LIV Golf gets the eligibility status or not is only for time to confirm. If approved, OWGR points could stabilize Jon Rahm’s OWGR ranking. If not, the coming season may prove unforgiving.