Jon Rahm bombshell as LIV Golf star 'left player group chat' before bankruptcy shock

Jon Rahm's future with LIV Golf has taken another dramatic twist after a bombshell claim emerged just hours after the league's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was confirmed.

Flushing It, the popular golf social media account run by Tom Hobbs that has landed numerous LIV Golf scoops, claims Rahm removed himself from LIV's player group chat exactly a month ago on August 9.

The timing is particularly significant since LIV Golf's 2026 campaign did not conclude until August 23 in Indiana, meaning Rahm had reportedly removed himself from the group chat while the season was still ongoing.

Flushing It claims Rahm and Danny Lee are the only current LIV players to have scrolled down to Exit Chat.

The revelation comes at an extraordinary time for LIV, which has now entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States as it attempts to restructure its finances and move towards a proposed new version of the league.

According to court records, LIV Golf and related entities voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court of New Jersey on Tuesday.

The filing indicates that the league has between $100 million and $500 million in assets, while its liabilities are listed between $500 million and $1 billion.

Several of LIV's biggest stars also appear among its 30 largest unsecured creditors.

Rahm is listed with a past-due claim of $7.5 million, while Bryson DeChambeau is owed $5.7 million. 

Dustin Johnson is listed at $5.5 million, Cameron Smith at $4.8 million and Tyrrell Hatton at $3.4 million. 

Brooks Koepka, who quit LIV Golf at the end of last year and is now back on the PGA Tour, is also among the top 30 unsecured creditors, with a claim of $1.7 million.

YouTube sensation Rick Shiels Media LTD is also said to be owed $1.4 million for a 'brand partnership agreement'. 

Importantly, those figures represent payments that were already past due at the time of the bankruptcy filing. 

They do not represent the total amount the players are owed under their wider LIV agreements beyond the filing date.

That distinction could prove hugely important as the bankruptcy process develops.

Flushing It claims multiple players have confirmed that the figures referenced in the bankruptcy filing relate to quarterly "Player Participation Agreements" due to be paid in October, rather than representing the full value of their LIV contracts.

Hobbs confirmed the figures "are not the full value of their contracts", adding another layer of uncertainty to the situation facing players.

Flushing It has revealed LIV players were informed of the Chapter 11 filing through a lengthy message from LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil in their player group chat.

But notably, Rahm left the group chat on August 9, two weeks before the final LIV Golf event was staged in Indiana.

"He is the only player to have done so [left the group chat] apart from Danny Lee, who left after he was released by Korean GC months ago," confirmed Flushing It's Hobbs. 

One of the most significant parts of O'Neil's latest message concerns LIV's existing player agreements. 

Flushing It highlighted the section in which O'Neil said: "As part of this process, we will address the legacy contractual obligations of LIV Golf 1.0, including seeking court approval to reject existing player agreements."

LIV's lawyers will reportedly be in court this week and that the process will run alongside the players' ongoing LIV Golf 1.0 negotiations.

If the existing agreements are ultimately rejected, the landscape could change dramatically.

Players could potentially find themselves with a choice over whether they want to sign up for the proposed LIV 2.0 rather than simply continuing under the contracts originally agreed with LIV Golf 1.0.

That puts the spotlight firmly on Rahm.

Rahm arguably remains the biggest name in the LIV ecosystem and has reportedly been linked with an exit for several months. 

The former World No.1 has won three consecutive LIV Individual Championships since joining the league, but more importantly has not added another major title to the two he won before making the switch to LIV in 2024. 

The 31-year-old Spaniard previously insisted he was willing to fulfil his LIV obligations, while acknowledging that there were still plenty of moving parts surrounding his future, but he has been particularly reluctant to confirm his allegiance to the league, especially ahead of this week's Irish Open on the DP World Tour. 

According to Telegraph Sport on August 13, sources were said to be "almost resigned" to Rahm's departure from LIV Golf. That report was also four days after he removed himself from the group chat, if Flushing It's claims are indeed correct. 

Flushing It also considers LIV player vibes are at something of an all-time low, despite the fact plans are already in place for a South American curtain raiser in 2027.

"I am yet to speak to a player who is committed to LIV Golf 2.0, but the rumour is the league are targeting a season opener in Mexico in Feb."

"Personally, from extensive sourcing, I think they will seriously struggle to fill the proposed field of 75 players," Hobbs continued, before adding "multiple existing players have told me they are finished with the league."

Those claims remain unverified of course, but they provide an intriguing backdrop to LIV's attempt to rebuild itself over the coming weeks and months. And also suggest that it's not just Rahm who appears done with LIV Golf... 

Read Flushing It's latest post in full here: 

LIV Golf has spent years trying to establish itself as a permanent fixture in pro golf. 

Now, as it enters bankruptcy protection and attempts to create a new league for 2027, its biggest challenge will be trying to keep hold of its biggest global stars. 

If Flushing It's latest claims are accurate, then Rahm may have already taken the first step towards deciding his future lies elsewhere.

And joining a new group chat.