Golf insider makes shock claim about LIV players' contract situation

LIV Golf players under lengthy contracts believe they can choose whether to stay with the league or walk away even if it survives, according to journalist and author Alan Shipnuck.

The creaking tour brought the curtain down on its 2026 campaign last week in Indianapolis.

Their season finale was played around four months after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund confirmed it would no longer bankroll the venture.

LIV's chief executive, Scott O'Neil, told reporters he's optimistic about their long-term future and is looking to finalise a deal with a new investor next month.

The deal, understood to be with London-based private equity firm BC Partners, is expected to see the league's schedule cut to 10 events in 2027 with reduced prize money on offer.

Under those circumstances, there has been speculation that the long-term contracts of players such as Jon Rahm could be rendered null and void.

Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023 for a reported $566.4m (£450m). 

The Spaniard said in May that he still had many years remaining on his contract and he "doesn't see many ways" out of it. 

"It depends who you ask," Shipnuck said of the situation on the latest edition of Dan on Golf.

"The player agents are of the opinion that the contracts are highly specific. [They call for] 14 events [and] $45m purses etc.

"So the agents feel like that is voided, it's not the contract we signed. If you give me 10 events for $8m we're out."

LIV Golf informed the majority of its workforce on Wednesday that they will be laid off in the first week of September.

The league is also expected to declare bankruptcy as part of a restructuring with a new investor.

"Whether LIV goes into bankruptcy, however how much hardball the new guys want to play, this might have to be adjudicated by attorneys or you could even see a lawsuit," added Shipnuck.

"Generally speaking the players feel like they are free.

"They have been talking about having stuff left on [their] contract.

"I feel like it's a bit of a cop out when they say 'I am going to see what I want to do, let's see how this contract plays out'.

"Most the people close to it feel as if they can get out if they want to."

Shipnuck's comments come as Rahm's LIV teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, said he expects LIV to continue next year.

It had been assumed that Hatton's contract expired last Sunday, but he told reporters ahead of the British Masters that he has "multiple years left".

Hatton appeared to suggest his time with LIV was up by selecting Queen's I Want to Break Free as his walk-on music at their party hole.

But he denied the provocative song choice was deliberate.

"I've still got multiple years left on my contract with LIV," he said.

"And as I've said, I've still got plenty of tournaments to play this year, so there is nothing really to focus on other than the golf."