Westwood says he is 'currently unemployed' as LIV's future is rebuilt

Lee Westwood says he is without a club, a tour or a contract. In an interview with The Chipping Forecast podcast, the former world number one said: "I'm currently unemployed." BBC Sport

Westwood, who won 25 times on the European Tour and played in 11 Ryder Cup teams, has been linked with LIV Golf, the league funded by Saudi Arabia that began in 2022. He said he has not signed for LIV 2.0, a proposed competition for 2027. "I haven't signed anything," he said.

He also said he has had no talks about coming back to the European Tour, now branded the DP World Tour. Its rules mean he could only return if he accepts a 10-tournament suspension. That penalty applies because he resigned his membership when he joined LIV.

The bigger shift in the sport is around LIV itself. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has put more than $5bn (£3.8bn) into the league, has withdrawn its backing. LIV has filed for bankruptcy protection, a legal process that lets a company reorganise its debts while it keeps trading. BBC Sport

LIV has secured a possible $300m (£224m) in financing from BC Partners Credit to pursue LIV 2.0. Its official website still lists 13 teams with players and rosters for the 2026 season.

Jon Rahm, the Spaniard who has won LIV's individual title three times in a row, has left the league. He reached a separation agreement in October, a deal that ends his contract. As part of it, he agreed to stop trying to collect $7.47 million (about £5.6m) owed to him from past LIV events, Reuters reported. The agreement was filed in a New Jersey bankruptcy court. His attorney in the proceedings is John Beck.

Rahm spoke about his exit at the Abu Dhabi Championship, his first event since leaving. He said he "wasn't willing to follow the path" the league had taken. "I just didn't like where they were going with 2.0," he said. Asked about 2027, he said: "I don't know what 2027 looks like for me." In a BBC video, he was reported to have given up £75m to secure his exit.

Rahm is not alone. Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Graeme McDowell have also left LIV in recent weeks. BBC Sport

For players, the choice is now about more than prize money. A player who leaves LIV can seek a return to the DP World Tour, but Westwood's case shows the price can be a suspension. For fans, the open question is whether LIV 2.0 will have enough money and players to be worth watching in 2027. Until contracts are signed, the answer is not clear.