Jon Rahm isn't exactly scouring the fine print for a way out of his LIV Golf deal, but he's not ruling out the possibility that the league's future might force his hand. With Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) planning to pull the plug on financing after the 2026 season, the two-time LIV champion is keeping his head down—for now.
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf's event in Washington, D.C., Rahm admitted the contract he signed with the breakaway circuit is ironclad. “Right now, I have several years in my contract left. I’m pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that, so I don’t see many ways out,” Rahm said. “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.”
The 31-year-old Spaniard was among the biggest names to jump from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf, and he's since racked up two individual titles. But the financial rug could be pulled out from under the league after 2026, leaving players like Rahm in a bind. He acknowledged that the news of PIF's divestment caught him off guard, even though league officials had assured players funding would continue for years.
“For me, the reality kind of came afterwards,” Rahm said. “I would say, like everybody, [I was] surprised. Obviously 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.”
While his LIV contract may be a trapdoor he can't easily open, Rahm did manage to unlock one crucial door: his Ryder Cup eligibility. He and the DP World Tour settled a long-running dispute over unpaid fines for playing in LIV events without a release. The agreement ensures Rahm can represent Europe at next year's Ryder Cup.
“There is no longer a standoff,” Rahm said. “We were able to reach an agreement. There were some concessions on both sides, and I offered some, they extended an olive branch. So that will not be a stress anymore.”
For now, Rahm is focused on the present. He leads LIV Golf's points standings and is rooting for new CEO Scott O’Neil to find a sustainable path forward. “We want to be here,” Rahm said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I want to keep competing. I want to keep sharing some time with [my teammates], but time will tell. Obviously, I think Scott and his team have a lot of hard work to do.”
In the broader sports world, contract disputes and financial uncertainties aren't unique to golf. Just ask the NFL referees, who are locked in a heated battle with the league over what they call “false information.” Or consider the WNBA, where Kelsey Plum's tax situation exposed the millionaire myth in player contracts. But for Rahm, the clock is ticking on LIV's future—and he's not sure where the escape hatch is.
