Sergio Garcia has been released from his LIV Golf contract at his own request, leaving the 2017 Masters champion free to plan his 2027 season as LIV works through its Chapter 11 restructuring.
LIV Golf terminated the Spaniard’s contract on Tuesday (US time) at Garcia’s request, Field Level Media reported. Yahoo Sports also reported that Garcia had received official notice the deal was over, after his lawyers sought a formal resolution in LIV’s bankruptcy case in New Jersey.
In a court filing last week, Garcia’s attorney argued that ending the contract “should not be objectionable” to the league because it “is consistent with (LIV Golf’s) statement that the agreement is ‘not part of (LIV Golf’s) go-forward business plan’”, according to Field Level Media.
What it means for Sergio Garcia
Garcia, 46, has won 11 PGA Tour titles and 16 times on the DP World Tour, and Field Level Media reported he recently told reporters he plans to play DP World Tour events in 2027. He has kept his DP World Tour membership since joining LIV at its launch in 2022, and Yahoo Sports reported the European circuit has set a policy for next season that stops players competing on LIV and the DP World Tour at the same time.
The release could also matter for any future approach to the PGA Tour. Yahoo Sports reported the Tour has maintained it will not negotiate with golfers who remain legally contracted to LIV, and that PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has indicated returning LIV players should not expect the same deal Brooks Koepka received. No return pathway for Garcia has been announced.
Garcia is in the field for this week’s Spanish Open in Madrid.
Jon Rahm’s LIV contract in limbo
Jon Rahm’s position is different. Yahoo Sports reported the agreement involving Rahm has been adjourned to a hearing on 5 November, while LIV has rejected the existing contracts of Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tyrrell Hatton and most of its roster, leaving those players free to negotiate new deals with the league.
Rahm has also withdrawn from the Spanish Open, the tournament he has won three times, as he and his wife Kelley await the birth of their fourth child, the Associated Press reported. Asked about his LIV future, Rahm said: “There’s a long legal process they have to go through before a lot of things fall into place,” according to Golf Channel.
LIV Golf deadline pushed back
The news comes a day after LIV Golf secured initial funding from BC Partners Credit, the first part of up to US$300 million. Field Level Media, citing the BBC, reported the deadline for players to sign up to the relaunched league, dubbed LIV 2.0, has been extended from 13 October to 25 October.
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