Jon Rahm Rejects LIV Golf 2.0 Terms, Lawyer Says in Court
By Staff Writer
3 min read
Jon Rahm will not join LIV Golf's planned 2.0 relaunch, his attorney told a bankruptcy court on Wednesday, removing the circuit's reigning three-time individual champion from its 2027 plans.
Key takeaways
- Attorney John Beck told a Wednesday bankruptcy hearing that Rahm rejected LIV 2.0's terms.
- Rahm is reported to still be owed more than $100 million, and as much as $150 million by one account, on a deal once valued near $350 million.
- LIV 2.0 is backed by a $300 million BC Partners restructuring deal and gives players a combined 52.5% ownership stake.
- Remaining LIV players have until Oct. 25 to commit to the new structure.
- Rahm's own contract dispute moves to a Nov. 5 hearing after the two sides try to reach a separation agreement by Oct. 15.
What did Rahm's legal team say?
Attorney John Beck said Rahm reviewed LIV 2.0's proposed terms and concluded they were "unacceptable to him," according to The Athletic's Gabby Herzig, who first reported the comments. Beck added that Rahm and LIV are in advanced discussions toward a separation agreement, with both sides aiming to reach one by Oct. 15. Rahm's contract was the only existing LIV deal not yet rejected in the bankruptcy case; it had been adjourned to a Nov. 5 hearing, which will now serve as a backstop if no agreement is reached.
How much money is involved?
Rahm's original LIV contract, signed at the end of 2023, has been reported at roughly $350 million. Court filings indicate more than $100 million remains outstanding, and one report has put the unpaid balance as high as $150 million with several years still left on the deal.
What is LIV Golf 2.0?
LIV's restructuring is backed by a $300 million agreement with BC Partners and is built around a 10-event schedule, five internationally and five in the United States. Rather than signing bonuses, players would receive a combined 52.5% ownership stake in the league, with BC Partners and other investors holding 45% and LIV management the remaining 2.5%. Players have until Oct. 25 to commit, and the plan needs approval from at least two-thirds of voting creditors representing at least half of total claims.
A $300 million equity plan means little if LIV's reigning three-time individual champion won't sign it.
Can Rahm return to the PGA Tour?
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has said the Tour will not negotiate with LIV players until they are formally out of their LIV contracts. Earlier in 2026, the Tour offered a one-time "Returning Member Program" to Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith; only Koepka accepted, paying a $5 million charitable donation and forfeiting five years of equity and FedEx Cup bonus eligibility. Rahm's 2023 Masters win still carries a five-year Tour membership exemption, which could let him return on a limited schedule as soon as 2028. He could otherwise play a full DP World Tour schedule, the path Patrick Reed has taken since his own suspension.
Rahm is currently No. 15 in the world after a mixed 2026: a tie for second at the PGA Championship but a missed cut at the U.S. Open and a tie for 46th at the Open Championship. Sergio Garcia was released from his LIV contract by a New Jersey bankruptcy court this week, and Joaquin Niemann has said he has not yet decided on 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Jon Rahm leaving LIV Golf?
His attorney told a bankruptcy hearing that Rahm rejected the financial and ownership terms of LIV's planned 2.0 relaunch for 2027.
How much money does LIV Golf still owe Jon Rahm?
Court filings put the figure at more than $100 million, with one report citing a balance as high as $150 million on his original roughly $350 million deal.
When will Jon Rahm's LIV Golf contract dispute be resolved?
The two sides are targeting a separation agreement by Oct. 15. If none is reached, the matter returns to bankruptcy court on Nov. 5.
Can Jon Rahm play on the PGA Tour again?
Not immediately. The PGA Tour has said it will not discuss a return until Rahm is fully out of his LIV contract, though his 2023 Masters exemption could let him play a limited schedule in 2028.
Rahm is at home awaiting the birth of his fourth child, a daughter due "any day," which is why he withdrew from this week's Open de Espana. He is still expected to play the DP World Tour Play-Offs in the UAE next month.
- Jon Rahm
- LIV Golf
- PGA Tour
- LIV Golf 2.0
- DP World Tour
- BC Partners
- Sergio Garcia
- Brian Rolapp
