LIV lurched closer to obscurity by filing for bankruptcy last night – a move that could spark a mass exodus from their star players.
The rebel circuit can no longer force their golfers to honour their multi-million pound contracts, after accepting they simply cannot continue to run up massive debts
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And the big names are unlikely to hang around to see whether chief executive Scott O’Neill can breathe new life into LIV.
The breakaway tour’s future looked bleak from the moment their Saudi Arabian backers withdrew their support earlier this year, after pumping around £4billion into their ill-fated bid to dominate the golfing landscape.
The decision to liquidate the current set-up, which was launched in 2022, paves the way for a new, slimmed-down LIV II.
And O’Neil says they have new backers signed up.
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The players will be offered a financial stake in the new tour.
But even if it gets off the ground the future prize funds will be only a fraction of the £30million they usually play for.
LIV will need the likes of Ryder Cup star and former world No1 Jon Rahm to remain on board to have any chance of returning in 2027.
Rahm is also still owed £5.5million by LIV, making him the biggest player creditor named in the bankruptcy filing.
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DeChambeau is waiting on £4.2m, Dustin Johnson £4.1m, Cameron Smith £3.5m and Hatton £2.5m.
In total, 14 current and former LIV stars are owed more than £33m between them.
But Rahm, who is preparing to tee off in the Irish Open tomorrow after agreeing peace terms with European golf bosses, has been reluctant to commit himself to a restructured LIV.
His Ryder Cup partner Tyrrell Hatton – who is also playing in Ireland this week – has also paid his fines for playing in LIV events instead of DP World tournaments, along with seven more of LIV’s European contingent.
After agreeing terms to return, it would be amazing if Rahm, Hatton and the rest remained loyal to LIV, especially after being handed an easy escape route.