But the world No.4 has no plans to be the next marquee player to join the Saudi-backed league.
Hovland doubts he would follow Rahm to LIV, mostly due to the league's no-cut format, he told the "Fore" podcast in Norway.
However, he acknowledged the enormous sum of money Rahm signed for – reported to be more than $A900 million – while taking aim at the "arrogance" of the PGA Tour's leadership.
"It would be a bit too silly to criticise the players for leaving. After all, you only hear one angle in the media, and there are quite a few different parts happening at the same time here," Hovland said. "I totally understand why he left. That's a lot, a lot of money."
Hovland has enjoyed a stellar 2023, winning the FedEx Cup title in August and the $18m (A$27m) bonus that came with it. He also won the Memorial, the second leg of the playoffs at the BMW Championship and tied for second at both the PGA Championship and the DP World Championship.
Those earnings would be dwarfed by a potential offer from LIV but the 26-year-old said that the format still does not appeal to him.
"I don't think their product is that great. I'm not such a fan of, for example, playing without a cut," Hovland said. "You need the competition with 150 players and a cut. If you don't play well enough, you're out.
"There is something about it that makes your game a little sharper. If I had gone to LIV, I don't think I would have become a better golfer. And then it is, in a way, end of discussion."
So could Hovland take a similar path as Rahm in the near future? "No, I doubt that," he said.
Jon Rahm switched to LIV earlier this month. (AP PHOTO)
Hovland was also the latest star to criticise the PGA Tour's decision-makers.
There is a December 31 deadline to finalise a deal with the Public Investment Fund. The framework agreement that also includes the DP World Tour was announced in June.
The secrecy of the talks generated significant anger from many players, however.
"The management has not done a good job. They almost see the players as labour, and not as part of the members. After all, we are the PGA Tour. Without the players, there is nothing," Hovland said.
"When you then get to see what happens behind closed doors, how the management actually makes decisions, which are not in the players' best interest, but best for themselves and what they think is best.
"They are not professional golfers, after all. They are businessmen who say that, 'No, it should look like this and that'. There is a great deal of arrogance behind it all."
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