Jon Rahm Exits LIV Golf: What’s Next for the League?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Jon Rahm’s Departure Raises More Questions About LIV Golf’s Future

Jon Rahm has announced that he will not be part of LIV 2.0, adding to the contractual uncertainty surrounding the league’s bankruptcy filing and the potential funding from BC Partners. Sergio Garcia has already been able to leave his contract, while other players are attempting to file suit.

Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023. At the time, his decision appeared to be one he had wrestled with but ultimately could not turn down. There was also a sense that his move might help push LIV Golf and the PGA Tour toward working together, potentially allowing him to compete in both worlds.

Rahm was successful during his time with LIV Golf, winning multiple times and regularly finishing near the top. The larger debate is whether the move cost him valuable years during the peak of his career, particularly in the major championships. During his first year, he appeared uncomfortable and may have felt that he had more to prove because of his decision.

As the years passed, Rahm seemed more comfortable with his place in LIV Golf. However, his public comments also became less forceful. Rather than acting as one of the league’s leading spokespeople, he increasingly emphasized that executives and other players could handle those responsibilities while he focused on playing golf.

Those comments suggested that Rahm intended to fulfill his negotiated contract while looking for a way out. After the league lost funding and entered bankruptcy proceedings, he gained an opportunity to leave.

The situation also creates sympathy for players and executives who continued publicly supporting LIV Golf during its final months while knowing about the problems behind the scenes. They may have been hoping that BC Partners or another investment firm would provide enough funding to keep the league operating for another year, even in a less lucrative form.

At the current rate, there is significant doubt that LIV Golf will stage an event in 2027. Even if it does continue, the departures already announced or reportedly under consideration could leave the league looking very different from its previous versions.

Questions also remain about Rahm’s compensation. Depending on the report, his agreement guaranteed more than $300 million, with approximately $80 million paid upfront and the remainder backloaded.