LIV players free to leave after bankruptcy protection filing

LIV Golf has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, marking a significant development in the league's restructuring efforts. The move comes after Saudi Arabia withdrew its multibillion-dollar funding, leaving all players free to leave the league. A Chapter 11 petition was filed on Tuesday, which LIV claims is aimed at preserving the company's business. According to sources, contracts under the previous iteration of LIV Golf will expire as a result of this filing, with amounts owed to players and creditors to be addressed through the court process. The new investor, BC Partners, has been secured following the decision by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to pull its funding in April. This development allows LIV Golf to start talking to players about their participation in the league's future. While there is no obligation on players to sign with LIV 2.0, regardless of previous contracts, it remains unclear when they will be able to enter discussions with other tours. The future of the league and its star players has been shrouded in uncertainty since its launch in 2021. Over $5bn has been spent by PIF, with major winners including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau lured by lucrative contracts and vast prize money. LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil had expressed confidence in achieving a critical mass of players for the new league. DeChambeau had also expressed optimism about the future of LIV Golf, stating there was 'a lot of potential moving forward'.