LIV Golf has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey, owing more than £30 million to its high-profile golfers, including top stars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
The filing marks a significant milestone in the downfall of the Saudi-backed rebel league, which was launched four years ago and triggered major disruption in the sport.
The bankruptcy petition reveals substantial unpaid sums owed to players. Jon Rahm is listed as an unsecured creditor with an outstanding amount of $7.5 million (£5.5 million), while Bryson DeChambeau is owed $5.8 million (£4.3 million). Other golfers named include Dustin Johnson ($5.5 million), Cameron Smith ($4.8 million), Adrian Meronk ($4.4 million), and Tyrrell Hatton ($3.4 million).
These figures represent money owed as of the filing date and are a fraction of the total value of their contracts. For example, Rahm's reported LIV contract was valued at $350 million (£258 million).
The bankruptcy filing could allow LIV Golf to pursue a restructured 'LIV 2.0' and potentially extend its operations into a 2027 season, contingent on a forthcoming union with private equity group BC Partners. However, the future participation of marquee players remains uncertain, as bankruptcy may permit golfers to exit their contracts.
Players seeking to return to the PGA Tour might face challenges, including navigating penalties previously imposed on those who joined LIV. Jon Rahm had previously reached an agreement with the DP World Tour for conditional releases to play in LIV events during the 2026 season and had seemingly mended ties with the PGA Tour. Bryson DeChambeau's LIV deal expired at the end of the 2026 season, and he is expected to recommit to the league in exchange for equity. However, sources indicate that Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, whose contracts run through 2028, were considered more likely to depart if the bankruptcy petition was filed.
Rahm himself had alluded to the potential for change, suggesting his commitment to LIV was contingent on existing terms being honored. "I still have a contract with LIV 1.0 that I am more than willing to fulfill, so like I said time will tell," he stated earlier, hinting at a potential shift if the league's structure fundamentally changed.