Report: Jon Rahm said to be "waiting, maybe hoping" LIV misses payment to exit contract

Jon Rahm is hoping LIV Golf misses a scheduled payment so he can exit his contract early, according to a report.

The claim comes amid growing uncertainty around the breakaway tour's long-term future after its financial backer, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced in April it will no longer fund the venture after the conclusion of the 2026 season. 

In recent weeks, league officials have stepped up efforts to secure fresh investment and it is understood a revamped LIV Golf 2.0 is already being presented to prospective partners, featuring a reduced schedule of 10 events and smaller prize purses. 

However, Front Office Sports are reporting that the PIF - which currently funds LIV on a month-by-month basis - may turn off the spigot sooner than anticipated, with one league official telling the publication that every remaining tournament of the 2026 season is "on the fence". 

LIV Golf is scheduled to stage its UK event in late July, followed by three final tournaments in the United States in August, including the team championship. The New Orleans event has been cancelled.

Rahm is said to be closely monitoring the situation, with the possibility that a missed payment may create a pathway to exit his contract early. 

The Spaniard joined LIV Golf in December 2024 for a reported $566.4 million (£450 million).

FOS stated: 

Multiple sources told FOS they believe Rahm is waiting—maybe even hoping for—LIV to miss a paycheque or file for bankruptcy so that he can exit his contract, which one source told FOS runs through 2029.

Neither Rahm nor LIV Golf have commented on the report. 

It comes a week after Rahm confirmed he will not be joining Bryson DeChambeau in meeting with potential investors try and help secure LIV Golf's future. 

DeChambeau said he is doing "everything he can" to save LIV and has personally attended pitches with investors alongside chief executive Scott O'Neil. 

Rahm told reporters in Spain ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia that he would not follow suit as he as "stay in your lane" kind of person. 

"I know nothing about business," he explained.

"I'm never going to claim to know anything about business and if I was in a business pitch, I wouldn't know the first thing to say. My job is to play golf and I'll say it's hard enough as it is, especially this week.

"If any player who knows what they're doing is willing to do certain things like that, I think it can only help. To have insight from a player on a meeting like that can help and I'm open for any suggestions possible.

"I would also say I don't have the free time that Bryson has to be flying around the country to attend meetings with three little ones and one on the way. Even if I wanted to, I don't know if I could do it."

Rahm was asked about his contract in early May, telling reporters that he "doesn't see many ways out of it". 

"Right now, I have several years in my contract left," Rahm said. 

"I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that, so I don't see many ways out. 

"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."