Jon Rahm Exits LIV Golf, Forfeits $100 Million
Two-time major champion agrees to separation deal with LIV Golf, citing 'unacceptable' terms for LIV 2.0.
Golfer Jon Rahm has officially departed from LIV Golf, relinquishing the remaining estimated $100 million owed to him as part of a separation agreement. Rahm reportedly found the terms for the league's upcoming iteration, LIV 2.0, to be unacceptable.
Rahm's decision marks a significant move for the controversial golf league, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey last month. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf's primary financial backer, halted its funding in April, citing a need to redirect resources toward domestic projects and manage financial pressures related to regional conflicts. Following this decision, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigned from LIV's board.
LIV Golf has been facing financial difficulties, with bankruptcy filings indicating millions of dollars in unpaid compensation owed to players such as Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Cam Smith, in addition to Rahm. The league reportedly spent between $5 billion and $8 billion between 2021 and 2026. Its CEO, Scott O'Neil, had previously stated the LIV calendar would not be altered after the PIF withdrew funding, but the league's championship weekend was canceled and rescheduled earlier than planned.
Rahm, a two-time major winner, originally joined LIV Golf nearly three years ago in a deal rumored to be between $300 million and $600 million. He has been a dominant force within the league, winning its individual title in each of the last three years. His name, image, and likeness rights will be returned to him as part of the separation deal, according to ESPN.
The DP World Tour recently announced that LIV players would no longer be permitted to compete in its events. Previously, LIV golfers could play on the DP World Tour if they were in good standing and paid fines for participating in LIV events that conflicted with the DP World Tour schedule, with those fines covered by the PIF until 2025.
Other notable golfers have also departed LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka was among the first high-profile names to leave, returning to the PGA Tour late last year, followed shortly by Patrick Reed.
Other LIV golfers have until October 25 to decide whether to join LIV 2.0 or leave the league. The future operations of LIV Golf remain uncertain, with a possibility that the league may cease to exist entirely.