Jon Rahm has made his feelings clear after deciding to leave LIV Golf, with his statement confirming that the two-time major champion will not be part of the league’s proposed new era.
Rahm’s future had been the subject of intense speculation for months as LIV Golf attempted to rebuild following the loss of its Saudi backing and subsequent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
That uncertainty has now reached a conclusion.
During a bankruptcy court hearing in New Jersey on Wednesday, Rahm’s lawyer, John Beck, confirmed that the Spaniard had reviewed the terms being proposed for LIV 2.0 and decided they were not acceptable to him.
“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,”Beck said.
The statement effectively confirms that Rahm’s three-year association with LIV Golf is coming to an end, although the formal separation agreement still needs to be finalized.
Rahm joined LIV in December 2023 in one of the biggest moves in the league’s history, reportedly signing a deal worth around $300 million. His arrival was viewed as a major coup for the breakaway circuit because he was a former world No. 1 and reigning Masters champion.
He went on to become one of LIV’s most successful players, winning the season-long individual championship in each of his three seasons with the league.
But Rahm will now walk away just as LIV attempts to launch a new version of the competition.
The league has secured an initial investment from BC Partners Credit as part of a targeted $300 million financing package designed to help LIV emerge from its restructuring and prepare for the 2027 season. The proposed model also gives players the opportunity to become equity owners in the league and their teams.
Rahm, however, has decided that the new terms do not work for him.
His departure represents a significant blow to LIV because he was one of the players the league relied on to give the competition credibility and attract attention from golf fans around the world.
The Spaniard is now left to determine what comes next.
A return to the PGA Tour remains uncertain, particularly because the Tour has previously indicated that its one-time returning-member exemption for major-winning LIV players will not simply be repeated. The DP World Tour could therefore become an important part of Rahm’s schedule while he considers his longer-term options.
Rahm also remains eligible to pursue future Ryder Cup opportunities, making his next move particularly important for his relationship with European golf.
His exit could have wider consequences for LIV as well.
Sergio Garcia has already secured a release from his LIV contract, while other major players have yet to commit to the proposed new structure. Bryson DeChambeau’s future is also being closely watched as LIV attempts to retain its biggest remaining stars.
For Rahm, though, the decision is now clear.
After three seasons, three individual LIV titles and a major role in the league’s development, the former world No. 1 has rejected the proposed LIV 2.0 terms and is preparing to move on.
“He will not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0,” his lawyer confirmed.
The next question is where one of the biggest names in professional golf will go from here.
