Jon Rahm Declines LIV Golf 2.0 Over 'Unacceptable' Terms
The two-time major champion's lawyer informed a bankruptcy court of his decision, citing unsatisfactory terms for the league's restructuring.
Golfer Jon Rahm will not participate in the proposed "LIV Golf 2.0" after his legal counsel reviewed the terms and found them to be "unacceptable," according to his lawyer, John Beck. The declaration was made during a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New Jersey on Wednesday.
LIV 2.0 represents a restructured, scaled-back version of the LIV Golf league following the conclusion of its funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) at the end of the 2026 season. Rahm's lawyer indicated that advanced discussions are underway for a consensual separation agreement, with the hope of finalizing it by October 15. If a mutual agreement is not reached, Rahm intends to formally object to any motion to reject his contract during a hearing scheduled for November 5.
Rahm, who reportedly has over $300 million remaining on his contract signed before the 2024 season, is seeking to extricate himself from the league. While Rahm is eligible to return to the DP World Tour in Europe upon payment of fines and fulfilling minimum event participation, his path back to the PGA Tour is more complex, as he missed the window for the Returning Members Program.
Details regarding the specific terms Rahm found unacceptable were not elaborated upon by his legal team. The proposed LIV 2.0 aims to establish a 10-event league in 2027, with a focus on securing investor deals, potentially involving players taking equity stakes. This iteration is expected to feature smaller purses.
LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy on September 8, a move intended to pave the way for a more sustainable future. In August, the league informed employees of significant layoffs across its U.S. and U.K. operations as it sought new investors. Recently, BC Partners Credit announced an investment in the league's upcoming phase. However, the league is also facing legal challenges, with digital media vendors Mobii Systems Group Limited and Fresh Tape Media filing lawsuits for unpaid invoices exceeding $1 million each.
Rahm's career highlights include winning the 2021 U.S. Open and the 2023 Masters. He secured LIV Golf's Individual Championship in each of his first three seasons, earning more than $106 million in prize and bonus money, according to Spotrac.