Jon Rahm LIV Golf exit fears grow as sources ‘almost resigned’ to his departure

Jon Rahm’s future with LIV Golf has been thrown into serious doubt after Telegraph Sport has reported that sources within the breakaway league are now “almost resigned” to the Spaniard’s departure.

Telegraph Sport's James Corrigan has confirmed fears are growing within LIV Golf that Rahm will leave the league at the conclusion of the 2026 season, with the DP World Tour reportedly increasingly confident that it will see much more of the two-time major champion in 2027.

Importantly, the 31-year-old Spaniard has not yet confirmed that he is leaving LIV Golf.

Corrigan reports that the former World No.1 is “expected to make a final decision in coming weeks”, meaning his future remains undecided for now.

However, the strength of the latest reporting will inevitably raise questions over whether one of LIV Golf’s most important signings is preparing to walk away after three years with the league.

According to Telegraph Sport, several LIV insiders have indicated that they are “almost resigned to Rahm departing”, while the DP World Tour has reportedly already been “primed” about his intentions.

It is a remarkable development given the significance of Rahm’s arrival in the first place.

Rahm departure could see LIV Golf collapse

Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023 in one of the most seismic moves of the sport’s ongoing civil war.

The European Ryder Cup hero reportedly signed a multi-year deal worth around $350 million to leave the PGA Tour and become captain of Legion XIII.

Rahm won The Masters in 2023, some six months before signing with LIV Golf. 

Since joining the league, he has arguably been the league's most consistent performer, despite only winning four individual events. 

Rahm secured his third consecutive Individual Championship title last week, further underlining his importance to LIV and Legion.

His potential departure though could have catastrophic consequences for the LIV Golf League moving forwards. 

LIV faces crucial financial negotiations

The latest Rahm news comes at a particularly delicate moment for LIV Golf.

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) is no longer funding the league past this season, bringing an end to the financial backing that helped LIV attract some of the biggest names in professional golf.

The PIF has reportedly pumped more than $5 billion into the project since its launch, while LIV has accumulated losses understood to be well in excess of $1 billion.

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil attempted to provide some reassurance about the league’s future last week when he revealed that a “term sheet” had been signed with a lead investor that will make LIV Golf players the majority equity holders in the league.

That investor is widely believed to be BC Partners.

O’Neil said at LIV Golf New York that he hoped a final agreement could be secured before September.

It's understood should a LIV Golf 2.0 model come into force in 2027, that it would include a watered-down schedule of 10 events with reduced prize purses. 

The optimism surrounding the announcement has since been tempered by reports suggesting that the future of LIV’s biggest players could be crucial to any investment agreement.

Both Bloomberg and the Financial Times have reported on concerns surrounding the league’s star power, with assurances over the continued participation of players including Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau reportedly an important consideration.

To add to all of that, it's understood from Monday Q Info that Rahm is still owed in the region of $150 million from his contract. 

That makes the latest Rahm development potentially even more significant.

If the Spaniard were to leave, LIV would not only lose one of its biggest stars but potentially face further questions over whether its proposed new financial model can work without the players who helped make the league such a major attraction.

Rahm could return to the DP World Tour

Telegraph Sport's latest report also points towards a potentially significant return to the DP World Tour.

Corrigan writes that the European circuit is increasingly confident it will be “seeing plenty of the Spaniard” next year.

That would be a major development for the former European Tour, which constantly sees its top 10 players otherwise not exempt depart for the PGA Tour each season. 

Rahm was offered a route back to the PGA Tour earlier this season, along with DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, but all three players refused. 

Only Brooks Koepka accepted the PGA Tour's 'Returning Membership' program offer to return for the 2026 season. 

Should Rahm indeed quit LIV Golf at the end of this season, it remains to be seen how PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp goes about bringing him back into the fold.

As it stands, unless a new rule is created, all LIV players holding PGA Tour cards must see out a one-year suspension.

Patrick Reed has had to follow that ruling, hence why he's played a full schedule on the DP World Tour in 2026, but the former Masters champion will get to return to the PGA Tour from next month. 

The latest report from Telegraph Sport comes just a day after Sergio Garcia told GolfMagic he plans to take up DP World Tour membership again in 2027.

Garcia also confirmed three more appearances on the circuit before the end of the 2026 season, with tournaments in Switzerland, Ireland and Spain on his schedule.

The Spaniard was unable to confirm to us what his wider 2027 schedule will look like, with discussions said to be continuing behind the scenes.

The prospect of Rahm, Garcia and other LIV Golf stars increasing their involvement with the DP World Tour would nevertheless be a huge boost for the circuit. 

DP World Tour rules could influence Rahm decision

There is also another significant piece to the developing story.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday night that LIV Golf players have reportedly been warned that special agreements allowing them to avoid DP World Tour fines and suspensions are unlikely to continue beyond the 2026 season.

The DP World Tour has declined to comment on that particular report.

If those arrangements do disappear, LIV players wanting to compete on both circuits in 2027 and beyond could face a significant headache — and potentially a sizeable financial penalty.

That could make the decision over Rahm’s future even more important.

The Spaniard has previously made clear how much the Ryder Cup means to him, and a stronger relationship with the DP World Tour would potentially make his European commitments considerably easier to manage.

For now, however, there is no confirmation that Rahm has made his decision. 

Rahm still has LIV season to complete

The timing of the Telegraph's report is particularly interesting, with LIV Golf preparing for its final tournament of the 2026 season in Indiana next week.

The league’s planned $40 million Team Championship has also been cancelled at the end of the month, adding another layer of uncertainty around LIV’s future format.

Rahm, meanwhile, heads into the final event having just won his third consecutive Individual Championship title.

His performances have demonstrated why LIV would be so reluctant to lose him.

But according to Corrigan’s reporting, the league is increasingly preparing for precisely that possibility.

The key phrase remains that LIV sources are “almost resigned to Rahm departing”.

That does not mean his exit is confirmed.

It does, however, suggest that the possibility has moved well beyond simple speculation.

Rahm is expected to make a final decision in the coming weeks, and that decision could have enormous consequences for just about everyone involved. 

For LIV Golf, losing their best player would be a significant setback as it attempts to secure new investment and establish a future beyond the PIF era.

For the DP World Tour, meanwhile, Rahm’s potential return would represent one of the biggest boosts imaginable.

And for Rahm himself, the decision could ultimately determine not only where he plays his golf in 2027, but how the next chapter of his career fits into the increasingly complicated landscape of professional golf.

For now, the Spaniard remains a LIV player. 

But for how long you have to wonder...