Jon Rahm to quit LIV Golf over 'unacceptable' terms for proposed relaunch
Jon Rahm is reportedly owed up to $150m (£113m) from the contract he signed with LIV Golf three years ago; both sides reportedly working on a separation agreement; Sergio Garcia weighing up options after being granted deal to terminate LIV contract
Thursday 8 October 2026 13:43, UK
Jon Rahm is to quit LIV Golf after deeming the terms offered for the proposed relaunch of the breakaway series “unacceptable”.
LIV Golf is currently going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the US after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its support at the end of the season, having invested $5bn (£3.7bn) over four years.
While players including Sergio Garcia successfully petitioned the court to lift the automatic stay on their contracts, effectively freeing them to explore other opportunities, Rahm was not granted the same route out.
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The Spaniard is one of LIV Golf's two biggest names, alongside Bryson DeChambeau, and is reportedly owed up to $150m (£113m) for the remainder of the contract he signed almost three years ago.
Attorney John Beck told a bankruptcy hearing: "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 also reported that Rahm and LIV are working towards a separation agreement, with a deal expected to be finalised by October 15.
Rahm, 31, has already taken steps towards a potential return to the traditional tours.
In May, he ended his dispute with the DP World Tour and paid around £2.21m in fines for playing in conflicting events, securing conditional releases for 2026 and making him eligible for the Ryder Cup.
Rahm previously declined the PGA Tour's offer of reinstatement through a specially created Returning Member Program, which was made available to him, DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka.
Koepka was the only player to accept.
As a result, Rahm would face a mandatory one-year suspension before being eligible to return to the PGA Tour, meaning he could not play on the circuit until late August next year.
What is LIV 2.0?
The next phase of LIV, branded LIV 2.0, received a significant boost this week after it secured a potential $300m investment from BC Partners Credit, increasing the chances of the circuit continuing into 2027 and beyond.
LIV has now secured an extension to discuss terms with players, with that running until October 25.
Sky Sports News understands there is no obligation on players to stick with LIV, regardless of whether they had previously signed multi-year contracts.
Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, who finance middle-market companies, said in a statement on Tuesday: "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."
BC Partners Credit will support the next stage of LIV, under which players would become equity owners of the league and its teams, with LIV CEO, Scott O'Neil, saying: "We believe deeply in the future of this league and in the opportunity to build something distinctive alongside our players."
Who has already left LIV Golf?
Koepka was joined in quitting LIV by fellow American Patrick Reed, with the latter announcing his departure in January in order to seek a return to the PGA Tour.
As Reed had not won a major or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025 - his major came at the 2018 Masters - he was not afforded the same deal as Koepka, so could not compete again on the PGA Tour until August 2026, a year after his last LIV appearance.
The 36-year-old will make a permanent return to the American circuit in 2027.
Reed has played on the DP World Tour since departing LIV and enjoyed a stellar season, with two wins and six top-10 finishes in total placing him top of the Race to Dubai standings with five events remaining.
Who else could leave LIV?
It remans to be seen what course of action DeChambeau and Smith take but Garcia is weighing up his options after being granted a "deal" to allow his contract to be "terminated" during Wednesday's hearing in New York.
The former Masters champion has not ruled out returning for LIV 2.0 but his major goal is to be involved in next year's Ryder Cup in Ireland, either as a player or a vice-captain, and a return to the DP World Tour could help facilitate that.
The Spaniard said: "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."
Garcia resigned his DP World Tour membership in 2023 after being sanctioned for playing in conflicting LIV events.
The 46-year later paid around £750,000 in fines in an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last year, but ultimately lost his card after failing to meet the minimum number of events.
Should LIV players earn way back onto other tours?
Speaking in Spain this week, Reed insisted players from LIV should have to earn their way back onto other circuits.
He said: "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."
Rory McIlroy, talking in August, said it could be a "tough road back" for the LIV defectors eyeing up the PGA Tour.
The six-time major winner told reporters: "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."
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler added at the time: "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]."
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