LIV Golf Facing Liquidation: Where the Stars Will Go in 2027

Following the collapse of LIV Golf, the stars are realigning for 2027: Jon Rahm is turning down millions and planning to join the DP World Tour, while Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson have yet to decide on their next move.

LIV Golf is being liquidated. On Thursday, November 5, 2026, LIV attorney Matthew Williams of the law firm Gibson Dunn stated before the bankruptcy court in New Jersey that the debtors were no longer pursuing the “LIV 2.0” plan. Instead of a reorganization, the company is now heading toward liquidation. A reorganization would have allowed the league to continue as “LIV 2.0” with fresh funding; under liquidation, business operations will cease. This raises the question for the LIV Golf League professionals of where they will play in 2027—and the first critical deadline is already looming: The DP World Tour is accepting membership applications for the upcoming season until November 16, 2026.

The 2027 Tour Card: Who’s Going Where

Some of the LIV pros have already made up their minds, while others are waiting to see what happens. As of November 6, 2026:

Rahm, Garcia, Oosthuizen: The Road Back to Europe

Jon Rahm took the biggest step. The Spaniard, who had moved to LIV in December 2023, reached a separation agreement with the league that releases LIV from all financial and economic obligations; it has not been confirmed whether the court has finally approved it. According to reports, the settlement involved more than $100 million in guaranteed future payments as well as $7.47 million in outstanding amounts—making Rahm the largest unsecured creditor. In 2027, he will play on the DP World Tour. “I wasn’t thrilled with the changes they made for 2.0, and I just wasn’t willing to go down that path,” Rahm said on November 3 at a press conference in Abu Dhabi. Nevertheless, he looks back on his three years with LIV exclusively in a positive light. After all, during that time he earned more prize money than any other player.

Sergio Garcia announced his departure from LIV on October 29. The 46-year-old, once ranked No. 2 in the world and the 2017 Masters champion, had resigned his membership on the DP World Tour in May 2023 and is now returning there. He is keeping his options open regarding the PGA Tour and hopes to secure a spot on the European Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor. “This Tour has been a big part of my career from the very beginning, and I’m proud to call it home again,” Garcia said in his statement.

Tyrrell Hatton announced on Instagram on October 23 that he would not be joining LIV 2.0. “I’m looking forward to what the next chapter of my career has in store,” wrote the 35-year-old Englishman. He is expected to compete in the DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi from November 5–8, but he has not yet announced an official schedule for 2027. In contrast, Louis Oosthuizen, Spain’s David Puig, and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin—who is ranked within the top 100 of the Race to Dubai—have already set their sights on Europe, citing the Ryder Cup in Ireland as their reason. Thomas Pieters and Charles Howell III also want to join the DP World Tour; Pieters and Josele Ballester are competing for a spot at the Final Stage of Qualifying School in Tarragona.

Koepka and Reed: The Costly Return to the PGA Tour

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour as early as January 12, 2026—via the Returning Member Program, which Tour CEO Brian Rolapp had established via memo. The program was open only to LIV pros who had won a major or The Players Championship between 2022 and 2025. The conditions: a $5 million donation to charity, no participation in Tour equity for five years, no FedExCup bonus money in 2026, and no sponsor invitations to the Signature Events, which have a prize pool of $20 million. The Tour estimated Koepka’s loss at $50 million to $85 million. “Financially, this is a harsh penalty,” Koepka said in January 2026 upon announcing his return. Rolapp clarified in his memo: “This is a one-time, clearly defined time frame and does not set a precedent for future cases.”

The program ended on February 2, and Rolapp has no plans to repeat it. Rahm and DeChambeau are therefore not currently eligible. Rahm said in Abu Dhabi that he had not spoken with the PGA Tour and would likely accept Koepka’s terms—but he does not believe such an offer will be made: “I seriously doubt I’ll be offered the same deal as Brooks.” Until the situation is clarified, Rahm is firmly committed to Europe. According to CBS Sports, Rolapp articulated the Tour’s stance as follows: “We’re interested in having the best players who can help our Tour. Not every player can do that.”

For everyone else, the standard procedure applies: The PGA Tour currently suspends returning players for one year from their last LIV appearance. Patrick Reed, who left LIV on January 28, 2026, without renewing his contract, made his last LIV start on August 24, 2025; he played on the DP World Tour in 2026 and was eligible to compete as a non-member starting August 25, 2026. According to the PGA Tour, he is aiming to return for the 2027 season in the category of former tournament winners. Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford will be eligible to play again starting January 1, 2027; Kevin Na has been reinstated, but a return date has not yet been set. A second route to the PGA Tour runs through Europe: The top ten finishers in the Race to Dubai who are not members of the PGA Tour receive playing privileges.

DeChambeau, Smith, Johnson, Niemann: The Stars Without a Destination

Bryson DeChambeau did not sign with LIV 2.0. During bankruptcy proceedings, his contract was rejected, as were the contracts of 18 other players. According to USA Today, DeChambeau is listed as an unsecured creditor with a claim of $5.77 million. So far, he is confirmed to play in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa in December. When asked in the spring about a return to the PGA Tour under the “scratch” format, he said, “It really depends on whether the players want me back.”

According to the Sports Business Journal, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, and Joaquin Niemann also did not commit to LIV 2.0. It is not known where they will play in 2027. The end of LIV has hit younger pros even harder: Michael La Sasso, winner of the very last LIV tournament in August in Indianapolis, failed to advance past the second stage of the European Qualifying School.

Kinnings’ Ultimatum and the Ryder Cup Question

On October 12, the DP World Tour laid out its policy: Anyone who signs with LIV 2.0 will not be granted membership starting in 2027. “The players have to make a decision,” CEO Guy Kinnings told the BBC. “Anyone who isn’t willing to abide by our rules and regulations shouldn’t seek admission to our Tour.” Previous agreements applied only to 2026: Hatton paid his fines in February and withdrew his appeals; Rahm paid in May and committed to five tournaments. With LIV Golf’s exit, the path is now clear again for qualified players on the European circuit.

Kinnings received backing in Abu Dhabi from Rory McIlroy, who echoed the tour chief’s accusation that LIV had sought to destroy the DP World Tour.

The leverage point was the Ryder Cup: Membership on the DP World Tour is a prerequisite for the European team. In court, the ultimatum sparked controversy. Judge Michael B. Kaplan said at the October 14 hearing that Kinnings’ remarks were cause for concern; LIV attorney Rob Fitzgerald called it a clear attempt to interfere in the proceedings involving the players.

From the PIF’s Withdrawal to Liquidation

LIV launched in 2022 with funding from the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF, which has since invested more than $5 billion. In April 2026, the PIF announced it would cease funding after the 2026 season. On September 8, LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey. Investor BC Partners Credit had pledged up to $300 million for LIV 2.0, contingent on sufficient support from the players—and then withdrew that commitment.

What’s Next

Membership applications must be submitted to the DP World Tour by November 16, 2026. From December 3 to 6, DeChambeau will be in the field at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. On January 1, 2027, Perez and Swafford will regain their playing privileges on the PGA Tour; Reed is aiming to reinstate his membership for the 2027 season. It is not yet known whether the court has approved the settlement or what the timeline for the proceedings will be. According to Rahm, the PGA Tour has not yet made him an offer.