Jon Rahm waives reported $100m claim in LIV Golf exit agreement

Jon Rahm has agreed to leave LIV Golf by surrendering his claim to money still due under his contract, BBC Sport reported on Friday. The settlement involves a reported $100 million, or about £75 million, and follows the league's decision to seek bankruptcy protection after losing its principal financial backer.

LIV filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States in September after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund ended its multibillion-dollar support. According to the BBC, Rahm was named as LIV's largest unsecured creditor in that filing, with $7.4 million outstanding for the remainder of the 2026 season. That figure covered only the balance for this season, rather than the full amount reportedly remaining on his deal.

The larger estimate comes from ESPN reporting cited by the BBC. ESPN put the unpaid portion of Rahm's contract at approximately $100 million, against an original agreement worth $300 million. The Spaniard signed that deal when he departed the PGA Tour in December 2023. Under the separation arrangement, he is relinquishing his entire financial claim to secure his departure from the league.

LIV has secured potential financing of $300 million from BC Partners Credit as it attempts to continue through a revised operation. Rahm, however, rejected the proposed terms. The agreement allows him to retain rights to Legion XIII, the name of the team he captained, but includes a restriction: he cannot use that identity to establish a team in TGL, the indoor golf competition launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Rahm had stayed under his long-term LIV contract while other players, including Brooks Koepka, returned to the PGA Tour. The BBC reported that the tour changed its rules in December to permit Koepka's return with sanctions attached. Rahm instead reached an agreement with the DP World Tour in May that preserved his membership and eligibility for next year's Ryder Cup.

His departure comes after another successful LIV season on the course. In August, the former world number one won the league's season title for a third consecutive year. He had previously expressed no regrets about joining and supported efforts to make the competition financially sustainable.