LIV Golf reportedly is bracing for the imminent departure of Spanish star Jon Rahm, who recently won his third straight individual season championship.
As LIV Golf fights to stay afloat without Saudi financial backing, The Telegraph reported Thursday that league sources are “almost resigned” to Rahm’s departure when the season ends later this month.
If the former World No. 1 and two-time major winner does return to the traditional tours, LIV Golf likely will have even more trouble securing the necessary funds to keep the lights on in 2027 and beyond. On Thursday, LIV Golf canceled its Aug. 27-30 season-ending team championship in Michigan.
The LIV Golf season will end with the Indianapolis-area tournament from Aug. 20-23.
Rahm, 31, struck a deal with the DP World Tour in May to retain his membership and Ryder Cup eligibility. He agreed to settle his outstanding fines incurred since he joined LIV Golf in 2024 and play five events on the European-based tour.
The DP World Tour is now “increasingly confident” that Rahm will play more of its events next year, per The Telegraph.
Before Rahm made his deal, eight LIV golfers settled their fines in February to avoid any further disciplinary action from the DP World Tour: Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie.
Rahm’s potential exit comes as the DP World Tour prepares to begin fining LIV golfers again in 2027, according to a report Thursday by The Athletic.
The DP World Tour has begun notifying current LIV members that they will face “heavy-handed fines and tournament suspensions” if they continue competing in conflicting events, per The Athletic.
Rahm has been one of the faces of LIV Golf since joining the league, along with Bryson DeChambeau and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann. Rahm serves as the team captain of Legion XIII and has won four tournaments along with his three individual season titles.
Rahm won 11 times on the PGA Tour, including the 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters. He held the No. 1 ranking for 52 weeks.
–Field Level Media
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