Jon Rahm is packing his bags: The Spanish golf star is leaving the struggling LIV Tour. As revealed by court documents filed on Wednesday, the 31-year-old is making significant concessions for this. He is waiving all financial claims against the series – in exchange for the return of his name and image rights.
Judge Michael Kaplan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey still needs to give his blessing – the final decision is expected in November. Last week, Rahm's lawyer had already made it clear: under the proposed new financing conditions, his client would not tee off again on the LIV Tour.
Rahm is no nobody: 2021 US Open winner, 2023 Masters champion, and someone who also performed well on the LIV Tour. He won four titles there: in 2024 he triumphed in Great Britain and Chicago, and in 2026 he secured victories in Hong Kong and Mexico City.
The birth of the LIV Tour in 2022 had split professional golf into two camps. Rahm was – alongside Bryson DeChambeau – one of the biggest names who gave the traditional PGA Tour the cold shoulder and joined the Saudi-funded series. A real coup for LIV at the time.
Five months after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) – its main financier – announced its withdrawal, LIV filed for bankruptcy in the US in September 2026. The documents show: liabilities of up to one billion US dollars could burden LIV, including the salaries for many star players. That's quite a statement.
But the show isn't over yet: The project, into which the sovereign wealth fund once pumped an estimated five billion dollars, is actually set to continue. Under the label "LIV 2.0," they aim to make a fresh start with a new investor. The officials have outlined a scaled-down schedule with significantly reduced prize money; tournaments on five continents are planned – from Australia to South Africa, Mexico, England, Hong Kong, and the USA.
