Rahm mentions 'LIV 1.0' at Irish Open: Where is LIV Golf heading?

Jon Rahm is in Ireland this week for the 2026 Amgen Irish Open, a DP World Tour event featuring top golfers from both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, including Rory McIlroy. Behind the star-studded leaderboard, however, lies a much bigger question: where will Rahm play next year, and can LIV Golf still afford to keep him? The story begins with LIV Golf's 2026 season coming to an abrupt and early end at LIV Indianapolis last month after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its financial backing. LIV leaders still hope to build a new model, tentatively called LIV Golf 2.0, for next season. But to make that happen, they need two key things: major investors willing to commit significant money, and star players like Jon Rahm staying on board. These goals are connected. Without guarantees that Rahm will remain, investors will be reluctant to sign checks. And without investor money, LIV Golf can hardly honour the huge contracts it already signed. Rahm's future thus becomes the decisive factor in whether LIV 2.0 can survive. Rahm remains under contract with LIV Golf for years to come. He signed in 2026, in a deal reported to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But with LIV Golf teetering on the edge of collapse and millions still owed to him, the prospect of Rahm playing out his contract is far from certain. On 30 June, BBC Sport caught up with Rahm in Ireland ahead of the Irish Open. When asked about his future, Rahm answered vaguely: 'There are a lot of things in place. A lot of things could happen, and time will tell.' When pressed on whether he wanted a path back to the PGA Tour, Rahm did not confirm or deny. He simply said he still has a contract with LIV. The striking detail was the name he used. Rahm said: 'I still have a contract with LIV 1.0 and I'm more than willing to fulfil it. But as I said, time will tell.' The phrase 'LIV 1.0' was clearly deliberate. LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil has repeatedly talked about his vision for LIV 2.0. Rahm signed with LIV 1.0 in 2026, and LIV 2.0 may not be obligated to honour the old contract. By using that phrase, Rahm was sending a subtle message: if LIV wants him to stay, it must respect the financial commitments it already made. In other words, Rahm is not really dodging the question. He is taking a clear position: his contract is tied to a specific legal and financial entity, not to a vague 'future version'. If LIV Golf 2.0 does not inherit the old contract, Rahm has legitimate grounds to walk away. From a negotiation standpoint, this is a smart move. He places the burden on LIV while preserving the image of a professional who is willing to honour his agreement. From a sporting perspective, Rahm's appearance at the Irish Open shows he wants to stay sharp. He needs playing time to prepare for the remaining majors and big events. Having Rory McIlroy in the same field gives Rahm a chance to test his game against a longtime rival. The Irish Open, part of the DP World Tour, also helps Rahm maintain his membership if he ever decides to return to the traditional golf tours. Whatever happens, this is a calculated step by a golfer thinking several moves ahead. Financially, LIV Golf is in a fragile position. With PIF gone, LIV lacks the unlimited budget it once enjoyed. The team model, huge contracts, and global schedule were all maintained by Saudi money. Without outside investors, LIV 2.0 would have to cut costs and may not be able to keep its stars. New investors will only come if they see a viable business plan, and that plan depends heavily on star players like Rahm staying involved. This creates a cycle: LIV needs Rahm to attract investors, but needs investors to pay Rahm. In this situation, Rahm holds strong leverage. He is one of the few golfers capable of shifting the balance of power between LIV and the PGA Tour. His move to LIV in 2026 was one of the biggest shocks in professional golf. He brings not only major-winning pedigree but also massive commercial value. If Rahm leaves, LIV would lose its central attraction, making it even harder to find investors. Another key detail is Rahm's phrase 'time will tell'. That is not the language of someone comfortable with the status quo. It is the language of someone waiting. He may be waiting to see whether LIV 2.0 actually materialises, whether new investors step forward, or whether the PGA Tour offers a viable route back. 'Time' here is not magical; it is time filled with private meetings, financial reports, and late-night phone calls between lawyers. Recent history shows that contracts in golf are not always ironclad. Several players have left LIV before their deals expired and returned to the PGA Tour without major obstacles. If Rahm truly wants to come back, he would likely be welcomed. But walking away from tens of millions of dollars is never easy. The coming months could therefore bring intense negotiations involving Rahm, LIV Golf, and perhaps the PGA Tour itself. For fans, what matters most is seeing Jon Rahm compete at the highest level. At the Irish Open, Rahm will not want the media narrative to be dominated by evasive answers. He will want to prove his strength with powerful swings. After all, golf is decided on the course, not at the negotiating table. If Rahm wins in Ireland this week, he will send a strong message to everyone: regardless of which organisation he represents, he remains one of the best golfers in the world. That is the true value LIV is fighting to keep, and the value the PGA Tour would like to reclaim. Rahm's story is bigger than just one player. It reflects a fundamental shift in the global golf ecosystem. LIV Golf once caused an unprecedented split in the sport. Now, with PIF pulling out, LIV may shrink or transform into something completely different. If LIV 2.0 succeeds, golf will have a new governance model involving independent investors. If it fails, the sport could see big stars like Rahm returning to the PGA Tour, helping heal years of division. So the real question is not whether Rahm wants to leave LIV, but whether LIV can afford to keep him. By saying he is willing to honour his LIV 1.0 contract, Rahm has put the ball squarely in LIV's court. If LIV is smart, it will understand that a successful LIV 2.0 must honour old commitments. If not, LIV risks losing its most valuable asset. In the volatile world of golf, once Jon Rahm walks away, he may never return. Time, as Rahm says, will tell. But for now, one thing is certain: Rahm is holding a very strong hand, and he is waiting for LIV Golf's next move.