There may yet be a LIV 2.0. But it’ll happen without LIV 1.0’s best player.
Jon Rahm is out, his representation announced during a Wednesday bankruptcy hearing, dealing a major blow to the future of the breakaway golf league.
Gabby Herzig of The Athletic first reported the comments from lawyer John Beck, which included the below:
“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.”
Here’s what else we know.
Jon Rahm leaving LIV: What we know
Is this a surprise?
It’s a big deal. But by this point, it’s not necessarily a shock. LIV didn’t finish its 2026 season in style; after the Saudi PIF cut off funding they cancelled events, shortened their postseason, fired most of their staff and declared bankruptcy.
Rahm is owed a ton of money — more on that in a minute — and whatever terms he was offered as part of LIV’s “2.0” vision for 2027 (a vision which has centred on player equity) and beyond clearly didn’t make up for it.
Okay, wait, so what did Rahm’s lawyer actually say?
You asked and SBJ’s David Rumsey answered, transcribing the comments below.
Here are the full comments from Jon Rahm’s lawyer ⬇️
“For the record, John Beck of Dentons U.S., LLP, on behalf of Jon Rahm and his entity, Rahm, LLC. I just wanted to rise briefly, to echo Mr. Martorana’s comments, and provide your honor a little bit more context for Mr. Rahm’s perspective, where we think we’re at, and where we think we are going.
“First, your honor, Mr. Rahm has independently reviewed the proposed terms of LIV 2.0 as the parties have been referring to it, and has determined that those terms are unacceptable as to him, and he will not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0.
“As Mr. Martorana alluded to, the parties, therefore, are in advanced discussions for a consensual separation agreement of Mr. Rahm and LIV that it goes beyond the scope of the rejection motion that is before your honor today. And so to that end, we hope to finalize that separation agreement and have a 9019 motion before your honor on or before October 15th to be heard at the November 5th hearing.
“If the parties, for whatever reason, are unable to reach a consensual separation agreement, Mr. Rahm intends to press his objection to the rejection motion, which we have shared already in draft form with debtors counsel, and we will be back before your honor on November 5th to address the scope and applicable provisions of any order seeking to reject Mr. Rahm’s contract. So, with that, Your Honor, unless you have any questions, I will seed the podium back to debtors.”
— David Rumsey (@_DavidRumsey) October 7, 2026
How much is Rahm owed?
We won’t put an exact number on it, given we never got official confirmation on the structure of Rahm’s initial mega-deal, which has been reported in the area of $350 million. But reading tea leaves from court filings we know that Rahm is still owed more than $100 million over the course of his contract, which still had several years remaining.
Now what happens to his contract?
Rahm’s team and LIV have some negotiating to do. Beck said in the hearing that the two sides are in “advanced discussions” as they work to a “consensual separation agreement of Mr. Rahm and LIV” by the end of next week, Oct. 15. Rahm’s contract was the only of LIV’s existing deals that had not been “rejected” as part of its proceedings; instead it had been adjourned to a hearing on Nov. 5. Now the two sides will have a chance to reach an agreement before then.
If not, they’ll be back in front of the judge.
So … can he come back to the PGA Tour?
Great question. The PGA Tour has made it clear that they won’t negotiate with current LIV players on their potential return unless they’re out of their contract with LIV; sources at the Tour confirmed on Wednesday that remains the case here.
While Brooks Koepka rejoined the Tour at the beginning of 2026 — and Rahm was offered a deal to do the same — he passed on that opportunity and played the LIV season in its entirety. It’s unclear at this point what Rahm’s specific pathway back would look like. Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has made it clear they have no plans to roll out the red carpet.
Rahm’s departure was particularly acrimonious, given his position in the game; in late 2023, with Rahm the reigning Masters champ and a top-three player in the world, his departure from the Tour meant LIV had seized a giant chess piece. Less than three years later, everything has changed.
Where would he play, then?
Rahm could potentially play on the DP World Tour next season. That has been the path of Patrick Reed, who is suspended from the PGA Tour but leads the DPWT’s Race to Dubai after multiple wins earlier this season.
There is one meaningful way in which Rahm’s situation differs from Reed’s, though. Depending on how the PGA Tour rules on his eligibility, he could also potentially play a limited schedule and lean on his major championship exemption — he won the 2023 Masters, giving him five years of Tour membership — to return in 2028.
How’s he been playing, anyway?
By Rahm’s standards it was a disappointing summer; he logged a T2 at the PGA Championship and two runner-up finishes at LIV events — including the Indianapolis finale — but he missed the cut at the U.S. Open, faded to T46 at the Open Championship and struggled in some LIV events after a three-year stretch in which he’d almost never finished outside the top 10.
Rahm is still No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Who else is leaving LIV?
Koepka and Reed are among those who have already left.
Earlier this week Sergio Garcia was released from his contract by New Jersey bankruptcy court, allowing him the freedom to plot out his future.
Joaquin Niemann has expressed hesitation about returning, given the league’s new structure and uncertain future.
There are also pros who’d left before the 2026 season, either by losing their place or choosing not to return — golfers like Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na, Matt Jones, Pat Perez and others.
Who’s deciding next?
We don’t know, but it’s safe to say the biggest decider will be Bryson DeChambeau, who now takes over as LIV’s “best player” as well as its highest-profile star.
Where’s Rahm now, anyway?
At home. He announced earlier this week that he would be skipping the Spanish Open, as he and his wife Kelley are expecting the arrival of their fourth child “any day.”
This article originated on Golf.com
Leave a comment