New York: Jon Rahm is set to leave LIV Golf after finding the proposed terms of the breakaway circuit's planned next phase "unacceptable," his lawyer told a US bankruptcy court hearing on Wednesday.
"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 to him, and he will not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0," John Beck, Rahm's attorney, told the court in New Jersey. Beck said the parties are in advanced discussions for a consensual separation agreement, expected to be presented to the court next month.
A seismic exit
Rahm, a former world No. 1 and two-time major champion (2021 US Open, 2023 Masters), was one of the most high-profile players to defect to LIV when he joined in December 2023. He has since won three consecutive season-long individual titles on the circuit. His departure is a major blow to LIV's revival plans: Rahm is also the tour's largest player creditor, owed $7.5 million in unsecured claims from its Chapter 11 filing.
LIV's troubled reset
LIV filed for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey in September after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund — which had invested more than $5 billion in the circuit — announced in April that it would end its financial backing after the 2026 season. Earlier this week, LIV secured a proposed $300 million financing package from BC Partners to underpin the LIV 2.0 relaunch, subject to bankruptcy-court approval. Rahm is not the only star seeking an exit: lawyers for Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, An Byeong-hun, Marc Leishman, Cameron Tringale and Matthew Wolff have asked the judge to release them from their old contracts, while Sergio Garcia's deal was terminated by agreement. Rahm withdrew from this week's Spanish Open for the birth of his fourth child.
Sources:
Rahm to leave LIV Golf after three seasons — Reuters
Jon Rahm to quit LIV Golf tour over 'unacceptable' terms — Al Jazeera
Jon Rahm will not return to LIV Golf in 2027 — Golfweek
"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 to him, and he will not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0," John Beck, Rahm's attorney, told the court in New Jersey. Beck said the parties are in advanced discussions for a consensual separation agreement, expected to be presented to the court next month.
A seismic exit
Rahm, a former world No. 1 and two-time major champion (2021 US Open, 2023 Masters), was one of the most high-profile players to defect to LIV when he joined in December 2023. He has since won three consecutive season-long individual titles on the circuit. His departure is a major blow to LIV's revival plans: Rahm is also the tour's largest player creditor, owed $7.5 million in unsecured claims from its Chapter 11 filing.
LIV's troubled reset
LIV filed for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey in September after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund — which had invested more than $5 billion in the circuit — announced in April that it would end its financial backing after the 2026 season. Earlier this week, LIV secured a proposed $300 million financing package from BC Partners to underpin the LIV 2.0 relaunch, subject to bankruptcy-court approval. Rahm is not the only star seeking an exit: lawyers for Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, An Byeong-hun, Marc Leishman, Cameron Tringale and Matthew Wolff have asked the judge to release them from their old contracts, while Sergio Garcia's deal was terminated by agreement. Rahm withdrew from this week's Spanish Open for the birth of his fourth child.
Sources:
Rahm to leave LIV Golf after three seasons — Reuters
Jon Rahm to quit LIV Golf tour over 'unacceptable' terms — Al Jazeera
Jon Rahm will not return to LIV Golf in 2027 — Golfweek
