Jon Rahm details shock LIV Golf funding blow: "For me, the reality came afterwards"

Jon Rahm says he was surprised by the unexpected news that LIV Golf's financiers are withdrawing their support.

The future of the breakaway series has been plunged into doubt after Saudi Arabia said it will end its multi-billion dollar backing at the end of the season. 

Rumours surfaced LIV was facing an uncertain future two weeks ago ahead of their stop in Mexico. 

Belgium's Thomas Pieters has since admitted that the atmosphere among players, caddies and staff at Club de Golf Chapultepec was "grim". 

Rahm told reporters on Tuesday ahead of LIV Golf's stop in Virginia at Trump National Golf Club that he attempted to play that week as if "it was just rumours". 

"I didn't want to waste any energy on an already demanding week thinking about it," Rahm said. 

"For me, the reality kind of came afterwards. I would say, like everybody, [I was] surprised. Obviously, [it was] unexpected. 

"We did hear the news that there would be funding for many years. 

"But then as the future of the league goes, I think that's obviously a question for the businesspeople."

Several LIV players have reportedly already reached out to the established PGA and DP World Tour to see if they would be welcomed back into the fold if the rebel league shutters. 

Bryson DeChambeau, who is out of contract at the end of the 2026 campaign, has denied recent reports that he is looking to leave LIV Golf before the end of the year. 

Rahm, who has also reached a settlement with the DP World Tour to resolve his Ryder Cup future, said he has "several years" remaining on his LIV Golf contract.

"I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that, so I don't see many ways out," he said when asked if he could break his contract. 

"Right now, I'm not really thinking about it because we still have a season to play and majors to compete for. 

"It's not something I want to think about just yet."

He added: "We want to be here.

"It's been a lot of fun. I want to keep competing. I want to keep sharing some time with [his teammates], but time will tell. 

"Obviously, I think Scott [O'Neil] and his team have a lot of hard work to do."

For his part, LIV Golf chief executive O'Neil said in his news conference that he has received "a dozen calls" from potential investors over the past 10 days, including private equity firms and other rich individuals. 

"It's still early," O'Neil said. "We haven't gotten to market yet. We haven't finalised our business plan. 

"We still are like picking and prodding, but we have a good sense at this point, you know, 10 days in. We know where we're going, and now we're just going to tighten the screws."

O'Neil added that LIV Golf is unlikely to move away from its focus on team golf. 

"If you ask me where the value of this business is, it's in the teams," O'Neil said. 

"If you're looking for direction, we believe that teams will have extraordinary value. 

"We believe that once we set the business in the right direction, with the right trajectory, with the right revenue base and cost base, which we're well on our way to doing, that these teams will have extraordinary value."