A former world number one golfer told the world he has no job. Lee Westwood, 53, sat on a podcast and said he is currently unemployed. This is not a joke or a marketing stunt. The English star has signed no contract for the new LIV Golf 2.0 plan. He has also not returned to the DP World Tour. His playing future is a blank slate as of Tuesday.
Westwood made these comments on The Chipping Forecast podcast. He stated clearly, “I am currently unemployed.” He added, “I haven’t signed up to anything anywhere. I haven’t made a decision on anything yet.” The situation is unique for a player who joined the Saudi-backed tour in 2022. Now, the league is shifting gears without its original funding source. Several big names like Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have already walked away. Westwood says nothing has been offered that he likes for the new version. “There’s nothing that’s been presented to me that was agreeable for LIV 2.0,” Westwood said.
The Cost of Leaving
Westwood faces a hard choice if he wants to play on European soil again. He would need to reapply for membership by November 16. But the price of return is steep. A 10-tournament suspension would block him from competing for months. He explained the timeline on the podcast. “I know that if I sign up on the 12th of November, I’ve then got to serve a 10-tournament suspension, which takes me through the South African Open.” This means his first game back would likely be the Turkish Airlines Open in early May.
The financial pressure to stay is gone for Westwood. He earned a fortune during his time on the breakaway tour. Over the past four and a half years, reports show he secured £16m in prize money. He admits he would have been foolish not to take the money when it was offered. “I’ve made a fortune over the last four and a half years,” added Westwood. He says he does not need to play to survive. Yet he still loves the game. This love is why he is waiting for the right offer instead of taking the first one he sees.
The LIV 2.0 Problem
The new LIV structure lacks the deep pockets it once had. The Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled its backing, leading the league to file for bankruptcy protection last month. A new financing deal of $300m is on the table, but few players have signed up. Jon Rahm told reporters he was not thrilled with the changes for 2.0. He felt the tour was moving away from team golf. Westwood shares this hesitation. He notes that deadlines have passed with no clear direction on signing.
Westwood is not the only one stuck in limbo. Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton are also not returning to the new setup. The uncertainty leaves many veterans without a schedule. Westwood says there are still many details that need fine-tuning. “I haven’t signed for 2.0. I haven’t signed anything,” he told GolfMagic. He has heard nothing about whether a signature is even required yet. The silence from the tour is loud. Westwood is watching the clock but will not rush a bad deal.
Waiting for the Next Shot
The 53-year-old has 44 professional wins on his resume. He was named European Tour Golfer of the Year four times. Now he waits to see where his clubs will go in 2027. The DP World Tour deadline is coming fast. If he misses the November 12 notice date, the path back gets even harder. He has looked at the schedule and sees a long gap. “I feel like the first event I could play in on the DP World Tour will be the Turkish Airlines Open,” he said. Until a deal lands, he remains without a team or a tee time.
Westwood’s honesty is rare in a sport full of spin. He did not hide the fact that he is out of work. He did not invent a reason for his delay. He simply said he has no offer he can accept.
