Jon Rahm and LIV Golf Finalize Separation Agreement
Jon Rahm has reached a settlement with LIV Golf, relinquishing claims in exchange for the return of his name, image and likeness rights, pending court approval.
Jon Rahm and LIV Golf have signed a separation agreement that will be reviewed by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael B. Kaplan on Nov. 5. Under the deal, the Spanish golfer releases all monetary and economic claims against the circuit and its affiliates, and his contracts with LIV Golf are terminated. In return, exclusive rights to Rahm’s name, image, likeness and the "Rahmbo" and "Legion XIII" marks will revert to him, while LIV Golf retains ownership of historical content featuring Rahm.
Court records show Rahm, 31, was LIV Golf’s largest unsecured creditor, owed $7.5 million at the time the league filed for Chapter 11 protection in September. Reports suggest his total contract value exceeded $100 million, with a multiyear deal reportedly worth more than $300 million when he left the PGA Tour in December 2023.
Rahm’s attorney, John Beck, told the judge that the golfer will not participate in the proposed LIV 2.0 series, describing the terms as unacceptable. The agreement also requires Rahm to forfeit any equity or membership interests in his LIV Golf team.
The golfer is scheduled to compete in the Abu Dhabi Championship, the penultimate event of the DP World Tour season, on Nov. 5-8. He missed the recent Spanish Open due to the pending birth of his fourth child. It remains uncertain when or if Rahm could rejoin the PGA Tour, as the tour’s CEO has indicated the Returning Member Program will not be reinstated.
LIV Golf’s legal counsel indicated the league expects to decide by the end of the month whether it will cease operations or proceed with LIV 2.0, with a deadline for player decisions set for Oct. 25, subject to change by new investor BC Partners.