Jon Rahm mentions 'LIV 1.0 contract' as LIV Golf seeks investors for 2027

Jon Rahm is in Ireland for the 2026 Amgen Irish Open on the DP World Tour, where Rory McIlroy is also playing. But the biggest story is not on the fairway; it is the future of LIV Golf and Rahm's reported $300 million-plus contract. The 2026 LIV Golf season ended early at LIV Indianapolis in August 2026. According to BBC Sport, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its funding, leaving the league in limbo. LIV Golf is now seeking new investors to build a 'LIV 2.0' for 2027. But to make that happen, the league needs two things simultaneously: deep-pocketed investors and commitment from stars like Jon Rahm. These goals are connected, because no investor will pour in tens of millions of dollars without knowing whether Rahm will still be playing. BBC Sport asked Rahm directly about a possible return to the PGA Tour. Rahm did not confirm or deny. He said: 'There are a lot of things in place, and time will tell.' When asked whether he would like a pathway back, Rahm again avoided the question. He insisted: 'I still have a contract with LIV 1.0 that I'm more than willing to fulfill.' Rahm's use of 'LIV 1.0' is the key. LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil has spoken about a vision for 'LIV 2.0'. Rahm signed his contract in 2026, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but that deal belongs to an entity now being restructured. If LIV 2.0 cannot honor the old terms, Rahm could argue the original contract no longer applies. He says he is willing to fulfill 'LIV 1.0', but whether LIV 1.0 still exists is another question. Having covered sports negotiations for years, I notice that golfers rarely use legal language by accident. 'LIV 1.0' is not a joke; it is Rahm questioning the value of his contract after the owner withdrew. If LIV wants to keep him, they must pay what they promised. If not, he can return to the PGA Tour without being seen as breaking a commitment. Many fans assume Rahm will stay because his contract is too big to abandon. But the real story is on the investor side. A new fund will not want to inherit LIV 1.0's massive liabilities. They will want to renegotiate or create a new pay structure. If that happens, Rahm will face a choice: accept a lower salary at LIV 2.0, or use a contractual loophole to rejoin the PGA Tour. LIV Golf's problem is not just money, it is trust. Potential investors need to see Rahm and other stars sign new contracts before they open their wallets. But Rahm will not sign without guaranteed funds. That loop makes LIV 2.0 difficult to launch quickly. Rahm's answer may be a tactic to increase pressure on LIV Golf. He shows goodwill by honoring his contract, but reminds everyone that the contract belongs to an old version of the league. If LIV Golf is smart, they will realize they need more than money to keep Rahm; they need to prove the league has a future worth his reputation. For now, Rahm only says 'time will tell'. But for those who have followed him since his PGA Tour days, Rahm is waiting for a clear signal. If LIV 2.0 cannot offer convincing terms before the 2027 season begins, Rahm's road back to the PGA Tour will become wider than ever. The question is not whether he stays, but whether investors dare to bet on a league whose biggest star has not yet committed.