Jon Rahm Turns Down LIV 2.0 As Other Golfers Commit To The Revived League

Jon Rahm will not be part of whatever LIV Golf becomes next. His attorney told a bankruptcy court on October 7 that the two-time major champion found the proposed terms for the league's restructured “2.0” plan unacceptable and would not be returning. The announcement confirmed what many had suspected since LIV's Saudi backer pulled its funding earlier this year, forcing the league into bankruptcy proceedings and triggering a scramble among its roster of marquee names.

Rahm is owed more than $100 million under a contract that still has years remaining. The two sides are in negotiations over a separation agreement, with a mid-October deadline set to resolve the matter before a November court date. He is currently ranked 15th in the world and showed flashes of his best golf this summer, including a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. His immediate future likely points toward the DP World Tour, though a return to the PGA Tour is complicated: the Tour has maintained it will not negotiate with current LIV players until their contracts formally conclude. Rahm's earliest realistic path back to Augusta as a Tour member would be 2028, though he retains his 2023 Masters exemption as a former champion.

Which Players Are Staying and Who Is Walking Away From LIV

Rahm is not alone in heading for the exit. Louis Oosthuizen, who announced his departure weeks earlier, said simply that it was time to move on. Branden Grace, Ian Poulter, Thomas Pieters, Charles Howell III, Lucas Herbert, and David Puig are among the players who will not continue with LIV in its next form. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed left earlier, and Sergio Garcia had his contract terminated by the court, making him a free agent.

About The Other Golfers

On the other side, a smaller group has confirmed their commitment. Richard Bland, who acknowledged he has limited options elsewhere, is in. Cameron Tringale, Victor Perez, Ben Campbell, and Brendan Steele have also signaled they want to remain. The league reportedly needed at least 25 players to formally commit by October 25 to proceed with its restructured model. Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, and Cameron Smith were among those still weighing their options as that deadline arrived.