Jon Rahm leaves LIV Golf, giving up claims worth a reported £75m to win his freedom
File photo: Federación de Golf de Madrid (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Jon Rahm has agreed to leave bankrupt LIV Golf, dropping all money claims, reported at about £75m, in return for his image rights; a US judge must approve the deal on November 5.
What Happened
Jon Rahm has agreed to leave LIV Golf under a separation agreement filed in the league's US bankruptcy case, according to court records reported on Friday, October 16, 2026. Rahm, whose LIV contract was reported at more than $300 million, will give up all his monetary and economic claims against the league. BBC Sport, citing ESPN, put the value he is walking away from at about £75 million. In return, Rahm gets back control of his name, image and likeness rights and can sign with any tour, league or sponsor. The deal still needs approval from US Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan in New Jersey, at a hearing set for November 5.
Key Facts
- The separation agreement was filed in LIV Golf's Chapter 11 case in the US Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.
- Rahm releases all monetary and economic claims against LIV; the agreement gives him no payment.
- Court records list Rahm as LIV's largest unsecured creditor, owed about $7.5 million when the league filed for Chapter 11 on September 8, 2026.
- Estimates of what he was due over the rest of his contract are much higher; BBC Sport, citing ESPN, put the forgone sum at about £75 million.
- All his LIV contracts end and he gives up his equity in his LIV team, Legion XIII.
- LIV will transfer the "Rahmbo" and "Legion XIII" marks to him, but he cannot use the Legion XIII name for a team in another league such as TGL.
- Judge Michael B. Kaplan is due to consider the agreement on November 5.
Why It Matters
Rahm's departure is a major blow to a league already in bankruptcy, because he is its largest creditor and one of its best-known players. LIV filed for Chapter 11 protection in September after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its funding, according to reports, and it has been trying to restructure under a revamped model with possible financing from BC Partners Credit. Rahm called the terms of that revamped league unacceptable. Losing its most prominent player makes it harder for LIV to convince other stars, sponsors and broadcasters that it has a future.
For Rahm, giving up a fortune buys certainty and freedom. He owes LIV nothing further and can choose where to play. His membership of the DP World Tour, the European circuit, is separate from LIV, and he reached an agreement with that tour earlier this year to keep his membership and his eligibility for the Ryder Cup. Golf Channel has reported that he could play the DP World Tour in 2027 and return to the PGA Tour in 2028, though PGA Tour rules have imposed a one-year ban on players who joined LIV, and no return plan has been announced.
Rahm is not alone. Other leading players, including Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, have also been freed from their LIV contracts, according to reports. A bankruptcy hearing on October 20 and a deadline of October 25 for player commitments to LIV's new backers will show how many stars remain.
| Date (2026) | Event |
|---|---|
| September 8 | LIV Golf files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy |
| October 16 | Rahm's separation agreement reported from court filings |
| October 20 | Next hearing in LIV's bankruptcy case |
| October 25 | Deadline for player commitments under the BC Partners plan |
| November 5 | Judge to consider Rahm's agreement |
Impact
Short-term: Rahm is effectively a free agent, pending the court's approval, and attention turns to which tours he will play in 2027. LIV faces more pressure ahead of its October 20 hearing.
Long-term: Rahm's exit, along with other departures, could end LIV as a major force in men's golf and speed up the reunification of the top players under the established tours. It may also shape how future player contracts handle a league's collapse.
Who is affected: Jon Rahm and other LIV players weighing their options, LIV Golf and its creditors, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, Ryder Cup organisers, sponsors and broadcasters, and golf fans who want the best players competing together again.
Key Takeaway
Jon Rahm leaves the LIV tour by giving up claims reported at about £75 million in return for his freedom and image rights, a deal that deepens LIV's crisis and opens his path back to the established tours.
Questions and Answers
Why did Jon Rahm leave the LIV tour?
LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy in September 2026, and Rahm called the terms of its revamped league unacceptable. He agreed to a separation that ends all his LIV contracts in return for regaining his name, image and likeness rights.
How much money did Jon Rahm give up to leave LIV?
The agreement gives him no payment and releases all his claims against LIV. Court records show he was owed about $7.5 million at the time of the bankruptcy filing, and BBC Sport, citing ESPN, put the total he forgoes at about £75 million.
Can Jon Rahm return to the PGA Tour?
He is free to join any tour once the agreement is approved. Golf Channel reports he could play the DP World Tour in 2027 and return to the PGA Tour in 2028, but no plan has been announced.
When will the agreement be final?
US Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan in New Jersey is due to consider it on November 5, 2026.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
