Jon Rahm leaving LIV Golf, attorney reveals, dealing blow to bankrupt league. Wed, October 7, 2026 at 10:16 AM PDT · Wherever LIV Golf goes from here, Jon Rahm won't be a part of it. The two-time major winner is exiting the league as it prepares to transition into its next phase, dubbed "LIV 2.0." LIV Golf, formerly funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is attempting to reorganize itself into a worldwide tour with other investment. Rahm's departure is a crucial PR blow to the league, which had hoped to capitalize on the star power of its biggest names as it invited investment in its next phase. Rahm's attorney John Beck announced at LIV's ongoing bankruptcy hearings that Rahm "has independently reviewed the proposed terms of LIV 2.0... and has determined that those terms are unacceptable to him, and he will be not be participating going forward." LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 8. Still remaining to be determined: Where Rahm plays next, and whether LIV Golf has any remaining contractual hold on him. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has repeatedly stated that there is no pathway back to the Tour for any player with contractual ties to any outside Tour (i.e. LIV Golf). If Rahm is able to demonstrate that he is free of any legal entanglements, he could follow the path of fellow former LIV player Patrick Reed, who has spent a year working his way back onto the Tour via the DP World Tour and other international stops. The contract status of Rahm and other LIV players is a key component of LIV's current reorganization. As recently as May, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil told Yahoo Sports that Rahm was still under contract to LIV for several years; one of the key questions for LIV's immediate future is whether those contracts are still enforceable or null and void as a result of LIV's bankruptcy proceedings. Beck indicated in Wednesday's bankruptcy proceedings that Rahm and LIV are working on an exit agreement. LIV has granted Sergio Garcia a release from his deal, but Rahm's remains in question. Rahm and fellow two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau made for an attractive pitch to potential LIV investors, but DeChambeau is currently a free agent, and Rahm's departure makes LIV's pitch that much more difficult. Rahm, who is still owed somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million, is apparently the largest creditor remaining for LIV Golf, as well as its key drawing card. Rahm's departure for LIV in late 2023 was a significant coup for the breakaway tour, and seemed to herald that future potential defections would follow. But Rahm, as it turned out, was the last significant name to join LIV, which is now attempting to reorganize itself without Saudi funding. As Golf.com's James Colgan noted, Rahm's three-year majors record while a member of LIV was a substantial downgrade from his prior run. While with LIV, Rahm played in 11 majors, winning zero, placing in the top 10 four times and the top 5 once while missing two cuts. In the three years prior to joining LIV, Rahm had 12 major starts, finished in the top 10 seven times, did not miss a cut, and won twice at the 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters. Rahm has a lifetime exemption into the Masters; his exemptions to the Open Championship and PGA Championship run through the 2028 events, and his U.S. Open exemption runs through the 2031 event.

Sergio Garcia let out of LIV Golf contract, but Jon Rahm's deal remains in limbo. [Photo: Augusta National] Sergio Garcia has been granted a release from his LIV Golf contract by New Jersey's bankruptcy court, but Jon Rahm's deal remains stuck in limbo. LIV Golf's bankruptcy plea last month included a restructuring plan that would likely release LIV players from their existing contracts, allowing them to pursue opportunities elsewhere. However, last week Garcia's lawyers and his LLC (Even Par) asserted they do not oppose this motion but do want clarification, as Garcia's representation requested the court honour the request to end the agreement or allow Garcia to end it. This week the court ruled that the automatic stay on the contracts has been lifted, allowing Garcia to begin weighing his options where he will play his 2027 season. Garcia still has DP World Tour membership, and LIV players have been able to play on the European circuit throughout professional golf's schism, although that could change for next year. As for the PGA Tour, aside from a one-time window given to Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith, the tour has not allowed LIV players back without serving a year-long suspension. Only Koepka took the offer, and PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp has repeatedly said the tour has no intention on reviving the program for those looking to jump ship now that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has pulled its funding from LIV. Moreover, Garcia returning to the tour would be an incredible turnaround from how he left, as he was caught on camera stating, "I can't wait to leave this tour," after a rules dispute at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship. Three weeks later, Garcia was announced as part of LIV's first wave of signees. Of greater note is Rahm's agreement, which will now not be heard until November 5. The date is noteworthy in that, on Tuesday, LIV's new investor BC Partners moved its player deadline commitment by two weeks to October 25. According to court documents, Rahm is the only player whose contract is being adjourned to a later date. Since August, there has been speculation among LIV staff (prior to most of the company being laid off) that Rahm wanted out. However, he has been non-committal with his public remarks on the situation. On Tuesday, Rahm announced he was dropping out of this week's Spanish Open due to his wife expected to give birth shortly to the couple's fourth child. BC Partners announced it has made an initial $US4 million investment of a possible $US300 million funding in LIV Golf, a move that BC leader Ted Goldthorpe hailed as the first step in relaunching for the former Saudi-backed league. "We're all systems go," Goldthorpe said in a London conference on Tuesday. "The next 22 days is going to be about signing up the players, but again, I feel very, very good about that." Despite Goldthorpe's remarks, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund had raised flags since LIV's initial bankruptcy filing that BC just wants LIV for tax write-off purposes and is not interested in running a golf league.

LIV Golf secures potential $300m investment. Mike Peter BBC Sport journalist * 2 hours ago LIV Golf has secured a possible $300m in financing from BC Partners Credit in order to try to move forward with the 2027 season. The league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States in September after Saudi Arabia withdrew its multibillion-dollar funding, starting a court-supervised "restructuring process" that they hope to complete in early 2027. It is unclear how much of the $300m LIV requires to start next year's schedule and which players will start the season. The competition's participants are owed at least $45m (£33m) and have the option to leave. However the agreement secures an extension for the league to discuss terms with its players, with talks now open until 25 October. BBC Sport understands there is no obligation on players to sign on to LIV 2.0, regardless of whether they had previously signed multi-year contracts with LIV Golf. League insiders see the committed investment as a "significant" step forward in the court-supervised restructuring process. "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," said Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit, in a statement. The credit firm, which provides financing to middle-market companies, said the funding would support the next phase of LIV Golf, under which players would become equity owners of both the league and its teams. The financing remains subject to bankruptcy court approval and customary conditions. "This investment is an important step forward for LIV Golf," said LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil in a statement. "We're delivering on our major milestones, and while there is still work ahead, today marks meaningful progress toward a player-owned, team-focused, truly global league that complements the wider game and creates new opportunities for players, fans, partners, and the next generation of golfers." Since LIV's controversial launch in 2021, more than $5bn (£3.7bn) has been spent by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with major winners including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau lured by lucrative contracts and vast prize money. However, the future of the concept - and its star players - has been shrouded in uncertainty, with the 2026 season having ended early. Documents in the petition outline money owed to LIV Golf's creditors with the 30 largest unsecured claims. Two-time major winner Rahm tops that list with an unsecured claim of $7.5m (£5.5m). DeChambeau ($5.7m - £4.2m), Dustin Johnson ($5.5m - £4.1m), Cameron Smith ($4.8m - £3.5m) and Tyrrell Hatton ($3.4m - £2.5m) are also among the top 30 creditors, as well as Brooks Koepka, who left to rejoin the PGA Tour in January but has an unsecured claim of $1.7m (£1.25m). The total amount owed to the 14 current and former LIV players in the top 30 creditors is just over $45m (£33m). A source familiar with the figures told BBC Sport the creditors list outlines the "amount owed and not paid for Q3" of 2026, not the full amounts. Chapter 11 protection postpones a US company's obligations to its creditors, giving it time to reorganise its debts or sell parts of the business. PIF is providing a bankruptcy loan of $49.6m (£36.6m) - called 'debtor in possession' (DIP) financing - to help fund the process. Related topics.