LIV Golf faces a potential leadership crisis as Jon Rahm, one of the circuit’s marquee players, is reportedly preparing to leave the league amid ongoing financial restructuring. The news comes just days after LIV secured new investment to continue operations through 2027.
According to a report by The Telegraph, sources within LIV Golf indicate that Rahm’s departure is imminent, with the two-time major champion expected to make a decision within weeks. The report suggests LIV leadership has already resigned themselves to the loss of Rahm, whose exit would represent a significant blow to the breakaway circuit’s credibility and marketability.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced earlier this month that the circuit had signed a term sheet with a new, unnamed investor, securing funding to operate through 2027. However, the league’s ability to attract and retain top talent may now be in question. O’Neil stated that the investor’s commitment hinged on the league’s stability, including the participation of star players like Rahm.
Rahm, who signed a contract worth up to $300 million when he joined LIV in 2022, is still owed a nine-figure sum from his signing bonus, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. In recent comments, Rahm expressed cautious optimism about the league’s future, saying, “I play a game for a living. I can’t really be too upset about how things are going in life.”
The reported departure of Rahm coincides with another setback for LIV Golf: the DP World Tour has begun notifying current LIV players that it will reinstate heavy fines and suspensions for conflicting event participation starting in 2026. The move effectively ends a temporary truce that allowed LIV players to compete on both tours without penalty.
LIV Golf’s financial troubles deepened earlier this year when its primary backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), reduced funding amid broader economic pressures. The circuit’s new investor, whose identity has not been revealed, has committed to keeping the league operational through 2027, but the loss of Rahm could undermine those plans.
The potential exit of Rahm follows a pattern of high-profile departures from LIV Golf, including Bryson DeChambeau, whose defection earlier this year also raised concerns about the league’s long-term viability. The circuit, which launched in 2022 with heavy financial backing from Saudi Arabia, has struggled to establish itself as a permanent fixture in professional golf amid legal challenges and competition from traditional tours.