Westwood leaves playing future open as Rahm explains LIV exit

Lee Westwood has not signed up for the proposed LIV 2.0 competition and has yet to discuss a return with the DP World Tour, leaving his playing plans unresolved. BBC Sport reported that the former world number one outlined his position on The Chipping Forecast podcast, while Jon Rahm separately explained why he had left LIV rather than join its planned successor.

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Westwood, 53, said the terms put before him for LIV 2.0 were not acceptable and that important details still needed work. He joined the Saudi-backed league when it launched in 2022. Although he said his earnings had removed any financial need to keep competing, he still enjoyed playing and was considering how to spend the next few years of his career.

The uncertainty follows the withdrawal of backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and LIV's filing for bankruptcy protection last month, according to the BBC. The report said the league had secured potential financing of $300 million from BC Partners Credit for its attempted relaunch. Only a small number of players had committed to the proposed 2027 competition, leaving the makeup of its field unsettled.

Rahm, meanwhile, spoke at the Abu Dhabi Championship after reaching a separation agreement in October. The event is his first since leaving LIV. The two-time major champion said he had supported the original project but did not like the direction of its replacement. In particular, he felt the changes reduced the emphasis on team competition and made the format more like a conventional tournament, with too many questions unanswered.

The Spaniard is among several prominent departures in recent weeks, with Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Graeme McDowell also leaving, the BBC reported. Westwood nevertheless said he believed a reorganised league could succeed. He identified excessive spending in the previous operation and questioned whether the new competition would be able to attract the players it needed.

A DP World Tour comeback would bring a separate obstacle for Westwood, who has 25 victories on the circuit and 11 Ryder Cup appearances. The BBC reported that he would have to accept a 10-tournament suspension to return. Westwood said joining on 12 November could leave him waiting until the event in Turkey in May to compete, but stressed that he had not confirmed those arrangements.