Jon Rahm’s latest comments have added another layer to the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s future. The Spaniard was asked about his role in the league’s restructuring at the BMW PGA Championship. Rahm said he has not been involved in planning the next version of LIV Golf. He specifically pointed to Bryson DeChambeau as a player who has been quite involved.
That contrast matters after LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 8. Rahm’s future remains unresolved as the league works toward a new structure for 2027. The situation has put two of LIV’s biggest stars on different paths.
Rahm distances himself from LIV’s next chapter
Rahm addressed the situation on Tuesday at Wentworth, where he was preparing for the BMW PGA Championship. Asked about the planning process, the two-time major champion said some players have had more involvement than others and that he has not really been involved.
Rahm then made the distinction that immediately drew attention. “Obviously, we all know Bryson has been quite involved,” he said, while explaining that he did not feel suited to the political side of professional golf.
The comment does not confirm that Rahm intends to leave LIV Golf. Instead, it establishes a clear difference between the two stars at a moment when the league’s future depends heavily on player participation and restructuring. Rahm’s wording also came after months of uncertainty about contracts, financing, and the league’s next competitive format.
Why Bryson’s role is significant
DeChambeau has been publicly connected to LIV’s future for months. Earlier this year, as the league searched for new financing after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund decided to stop funding it after the 2026 season, DeChambeau said he was willing to use his profile to help with business discussions.
The two-time U.S. Open champion also spoke positively about LIV during the spring. He described the league as a startup facing a difficult period and said he would do everything in his power to make it work, emphasizing his belief in the team format.
That history makes Rahm’s latest remark more revealing than a simple comment about internal meetings. DeChambeau has repeatedly presented himself as invested in the league’s survival, while Rahm has largely kept his focus on competition and his own playing schedule.
LIV’s bankruptcy changed the equation
LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 8 as part of a proposed restructuring agreement with BC Partners. The league says the plan could give players majority ownership, while the organization seeks court approval and additional financing.
The bankruptcy filing also listed Rahm and DeChambeau among LIV’s unsecured creditors. Media outlets reported that the documents show both players are owed millions, adding another financial complication to decisions surrounding the league’s next phase. Their financial status therefore sits alongside their sporting decisions as LIV moves through the restructuring process.
LIV’s 2026 season ended in August at Indianapolis, where the league also crowned its season-long team champion. DeChambeau finished third there, while Rahm finished runner-up and also completed the season as LIV’s individual champion.
Fun fact: Bryson DeChambeau’s 2023 LIV Golf win at Greenbrier included a final-round 58, making him the first player in LIV history to shoot 58 and giving him one of the league’s most unusual low-round performances.
Rahm’s earlier answers add context
Rahm has been consistent in refusing to provide a definitive answer about 2027. At LIV Golf U.K. in July, he was asked directly whether he expected to play LIV Golf the following season and responded that he would not share anything he could not disclose at the time.
He has also said that he remains in contact with LIV officials and knows more about the situation than he can publicly discuss. That position leaves open multiple possibilities without establishing that Rahm has decided to leave. His comments have remained deliberately limited even as questions about the league have intensified.
The Spaniard has also maintained his commitment to European golf. That commitment has kept him active on the DP World Tour during the uncertainty. He reached an agreement with the DP World Tour earlier this year after a dispute involving fines and eligibility, allowing him to compete in events such as the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.
The PGA Tour route is no longer straightforward
Rahm’s options are also shaped by the PGA Tour’s current position. Earlier this year, the Tour created a Returning Member Program that allowed Brooks Koepka to return after leaving LIV, while Rahm, DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith were also offered the opportunity.
Koepka accepted the terms, but the other three players did not. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said earlier this month that the Tour is not currently considering another version of that program, removing an immediate repeat of the pathway Koepka used earlier in 2026.
That does not prevent Rahm or DeChambeau from eventually pursuing PGA Tour membership through other mechanisms. It does mean that the circumstances surrounding any return would be different from those of the special route offered earlier in 2026.
Two LIV stars, two very different positions
Rahm and DeChambeau entered LIV under different circumstances, but they became central figures in the league’s identity. Rahm joined before the 2024 season after winning two major championships, while DeChambeau had already become one of LIV’s most visible personalities after leaving the PGA Tour in 2022.
Their contrasting approaches now stand out because LIV needs its leading players to support a new business model. DeChambeau has publicly argued for the value of franchise golf and has remained closely associated with the league’s development.
Rahm, meanwhile, has emphasized that he does not want to be involved in the politics surrounding the sport. His latest comments stop short of announcing a departure, but they reinforce how little he has publicly committed to LIV’s next iteration.
TL;DR
- Jon Rahm said he has not been involved in planning LIV Golf’s next version.
- Rahm specifically said Bryson DeChambeau has been quite involved in the process.
- LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 8 as it pursues a restructuring for 2027.
- Both Rahm and DeChambeau are listed as unsecured creditors in the bankruptcy filing.
- The PGA Tour currently has no plans to revive the Returning Member Program that Brooks Koepka used.
- Rahm has not confirmed his 2027 plans, while DeChambeau has repeatedly voiced support for LIV’s future.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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