LIV Golf: Jon Rahm to leave league over 'unacceptable' terms for LIV 2.0

Jon Rahm was arguably the most high-profile name to join LIV when he left the PGA Tour in December 2023 for a deal worth a reported £222m ($300m)

Jon Rahm will leave LIV Golf after deeming the proposed terms for LIV 2.0 "unacceptable", his lawyer has told a bankruptcy court hearing.

Rahm's lawyer, John Beck, told the hearing the 31-year-old Spaniard "independently reviewed the terms of LIV 2.0 and determined those terms are unacceptable as to him".

However, the agreement secures an extension for the league to discuss terms with its players, with talks now open until 25 October.

BBC Sport understands there is no obligation on players to sign on to LIV 2.0, regardless of whether they had previously signed multi-year contracts with LIV Golf.

Some players, including Brooks Koepka, have since returned to the PGA Tour, which rewrote its rules in December to allow the five-time major winner to come back, subject to certain sanctions.

In August, the former world number one won his third straight LIV season title.

Chapter 11 protection postpones a US company's obligations to its creditors, giving it time to reorganise its debts or sell parts of the business.

Strained smiles and uncertainty - the strange end of LIV Golf 1.0Published21 August

Meanwhile, former Masters champion Sergio Garcia was granted a special "deal" during Wednesday's hearing in New Jersey allowing his contract to be "terminated" as well as "rejected", following an application by his lawyers.

Earlier he had told media at the Open de Espana in Madrid how keen he is to be involved in next year's Ryder Cup as a player or vice-captain.

Lawyers for several other players, including Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, also spoke in the hearing to seek clarity on whether the rejection of the contracts equated to termination of the contracts.