LIV Golf’s attempt to reinvent itself next year has suffered a series of hammer blows over the last 72 hours after a veritable legion of its most well-known players – including Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter – have given a variety of reasons for opting out of the breakaway league’s proposed second act.
With Jon Rahm having terminated his contract with the league two weeks ago – despite being owed over £7 million in unpaid fees – the LIV 2.0 project seems to be collapsing like a house of cards as more and more players have revealed that they too have lost confidence in LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil’s plans to reboot the no-cut team format series which has lost its founding paymasters, the Saudi PIF, billions of pounds over the last four years.
With LIV Golf’s management and legal team currently embroiled in a bankruptcy court hearing in the US, many of the players have sized up their options heading into next year’s season and decided that their future no longer lies with the Majesticks, Legion XIII, Southern Guards or any of the other team names, and decided that ‘Team Me’ is the best way forward.
“Tough decision”
Writing on social media, Ian Poulter said: “I have decided to not move forward with being part of LIV 2.0. Needless to say, it was a tough decision and one I thought about and discussed at length with my family and team.
“Ultimately, the opportunity to spend more time at home with my family, reduce international travel, focus on senior golf and have the opportunity to pursue other interests was something that I felt was right for me at this stage of my life and career.”
Tyrrell Hatton made a much shorter statement on his Instagram account, writing: “Wanted to confirm I will not be part of a LIV 2.0. A big thank you to everyone for their continued support. I am excited for what the next chapter of my career holds.”
In addition to those headline names, Tom McKibbin, Louis Oosthuizen, Elvis Smylie, Abraham Ance, David Puig, Brendan Grace, Lucas Herbert, Thomas Pieters, Laurie Canter and Adrian Meronk have also indicated that they will be seeking employment elsewhere in 2027.
Commitment deadline passes, debts unpaid
LIV’s new investor, BC Partners Credit, had set a deadline of October 25 for players to commit to the league, though BC can move that deadline. LIV’s own attorneys have suggested in recent bankruptcy hearings that the league would decide on its future existence by the end of this month.
Several players aren’t simply walking away from LIV, however. A group of more than 10 players, led by Masters champions Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, are seeking more favourable severance deals from the Public Investment Fund.
The unpaid terms of their contracts reportedly total more than $100 million, and the players in question are said to be unwilling to sign new contracts until the old ones are paid up. It has also been reported that the Saudi PIF has offered the players 2% of the value of the remainder of those contracts, which is unlikely to be well received by players who were promised many millions.
LIV and BC Partners have developed a plan that could bring in up to $300 million in financing for LIV 2.0, and players would hold a majority ownership stake in the new entity.
However, as of the deadline date of Sunday only four players – Richard Bland, Ben Campbell, Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale – had formally committed to the next iteration of the league.
Bryson DeChambeau, who has been linked to the LIV restructuring in the last few months, has not announced his future playing commitments within or outside of the league.