Jon Rahm has announced that he will walk away from LIV Golf after judging the conditions put forward for the league's proposed relaunch to be unsatisfactory. The breakaway circuit, which has been navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States, found itself without the backing of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund when that entity withdrew its $5 billion (approximately £3.7 billion) commitment at the close of the most recent season.
During the bankruptcy proceedings, several players, most notably Sergio García, successfully asked the court to lift the automatic stay that had frozen their contracts, thereby freeing them to explore other playing opportunities. Rahm, however, was not granted a comparable release. As one of the two marquee names still attached to LIV Golf—alongside Bryson DeChambeau—he is reportedly owed as much as $150 million (about £113 million) for the balance of the agreement he signed almost three years ago. Attorney John Beck addressed the bankruptcy hearing, stating, "Mr.
Rahm has independently reviewed the proposed terms of LIV 2.0 and has determined that those terms are unacceptable to him, and he will not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0." The Athletic has reported that Rahm and the league are now negotiating a separation agreement, with a target date of October 15 to finalize the deal. At 31, Rahm has already begun laying the groundwork for a possible return to the traditional tours. In May he settled a dispute with the DP World Tour, paying roughly £2.21 million in fines for competing in events that conflicted with the tour's schedule. That settlement secured him conditional releases for the 2026 season and restored his eligibility for the Ryder Cup.
Earlier, Rahm turned down the PGA Tour's specially created Returning Member Program, an offer that was also extended to DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka. Koepka was the sole player to accept the invitation. By rejecting the program, Rahm would be subject to a mandatory one‑year suspension before he could rejoin the PGA Tour, meaning he would be barred from competing on that circuit until at least late August of the following year.
The next iteration of the league, branded LIV 2.0, received a substantial boost this week when it attracted a prospective $300 million investment from BC Partners Credit. The infusion of capital improves the odds that the series will survive beyond 2027. In addition, LIV has obtained an extension to continue negotiations with its players, pushing the deadline out to October 25.
According to Sky Sports News, there is no contractual obligation forcing players to remain with LIV, even if they previously signed multi‑year deals. Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit—a firm that finances middle‑market companies—explained the firm’s objective: "Our goal is to facilitate LIV Golf's emergence from the restructuring process on sound financial footing and with renewed momentum heading into the 2027 season." Under the new financing plan, players would become equity owners of the league and its individual teams, a structure endorsed by LIV CEO Scott O'Neil, who said, "We believe deeply in the future of this league and in the opportunity to build something distinctive alongside our players." Brooks Koepka was not alone in exiting LIV; fellow American Patrick Reed also announced his departure in January, aiming to re‑enter the PGA Tour. Because Reed had not captured a major championship or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025—his only major being the 2018 Masters—he was not offered the same reinstatement terms as Koepka. Consequently, Reed will be ineligible to compete on the PGA Tour until August 2026, a full year after his final LIV appearance, and is slated to make a permanent return to the American circuit in 2027.
Since leaving LIV, Reed has competed on the DP World Tour, enjoying a strong season that includes two victories and six top‑10 finishes, propelling him to the top of the Race to Dubai leaderboard with five events still to play. The future decisions of DeChambeau and Smith remain uncertain, while García is weighing his options after a New York hearing granted him a "deal" that would terminate his contract. The former Masters champion has not ruled out a comeback to LIV 2.0, but his primary focus is securing a spot on next year’s Ryder Cup team in Ireland, either as a player or as a vice‑captain.
He added, "I think everything is an option. That doesn't mean I won't go or that I'll definitely stay with LIV, but settling the LIV 1.0 matter now avoids potential repercussions related to that contract.
Everyone knows how much I love the Ryder Cup and the possibility of playing in another one, or if not, finding some way to help in another way, as vice‑captain or something like that, could be something very interesting. I don't really know how things will end up with the DP World Tour regarding LIV 2.0, we'll have to see.
I want to try and give myself the best chance of making that [Ryder Cup] team." García had resigned his DP World Tour membership in 2023 after being penalised for playing in conflicting LIV events. He later paid roughly £750,000 in fines in an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last year, and ultimately lost his tour card after failing to meet the required event minimum.
Speaking in Spain, Reed emphasized that former LIV players should earn their way back onto other tours. "Those guys on LIV, there are pathways, whether it's to here on the DP World Tour or to the PGA Tour.
I feel the only way you should be able to get back is by going out there and letting the clubs do the talking," he said. Rory McIlroy, reflecting on the situation in August, warned that a return to the PGA Tour could be "a tough road back" for defectors.
"Eventually they will [be welcomed back]. I'm pretty sure they're not going to be welcomed back straight away.
I would say it's going to be a tough road back. I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn't going to be as good as the one that Brooks [Koepka] got," McIlroy told reporters.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler echoed similar sentiments, noting that while some LIV players possess the talent to add value to the PGA Tour, the transition would not be seamless. "I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the PGA Tour and guys that I love competing against.
Being able to compete against the best players in the world [is what I want]." In summary, Rahm's decision to walk away from LIV Golf underscores the growing uncertainty surrounding the league's future. With new financing, a revised ownership model, and a deadline for player negotiations looming, the sport remains in flux.
The outcomes for other high‑profile players—García, DeChambeau, Smith, Koepka, Reed and others—will shape the next chapter of professional golf, whether that involves a revived LIV 2.0, a return to the PGA and DP World Tours, or a blend of both pathways.