Tranlate this title Rory McIlroy predicts what LIV Golf players will do after bankruptcy filing in spanish

LIV Golf has become one of the hottest topics in the golf world, and it seems that the controversial league is now facing serious problems after the latest developments.

Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf could lose some of its players after the league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Northern Irish golfer has spoken about LIV many times since the league started in 2022, and he once again shared his view before this week’s Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.

LIV is trying to move toward what it has called LIV Golf 2.0 after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund decided to stop funding the league after the 2026 season. The league has now entered a court-supervised restructuring process in New Jersey.

According to bankruptcy documents, LIV listed assets between $100 million and $500 million, while liabilities were listed between $500 million and $1 billion. Several players are among the biggest unsecured creditors.

Jon Rahm is owed almost $7.5 million, Bryson DeChambeau around $5.7 million and Dustin Johnson around $5.5 million. Cameron Smith and Tyrrell Hatton are on the list.

McIlroy predicts LIV players will leave

McIlroy was asked about the situation before starting his Irish Open title defense and said the financial picture is now very different from the one players saw when LIV first arrived.

“I’m not in [LIV players’] shoes, but LIV at the start looked a lot more attractive than what LIV 2.0 might be from a financial standpoint,” McIlroy said.

The six-time major winner then claimed players could decide to leave because of the bankruptcy process.

“I’m not trying to predict the future, but I would predict that you’ll see some guys leave, as they are free to now as, I guess, contracts have been breached by them filing for bankruptcy.

“I think that means other tours have decisions to make. And obviously there’s a lot of players on LIV that can strengthen golf tournaments and make them more competitive. So I would see that as a good thing for the DP World Tour.”

The 37-year-old spoke positively about the relationship between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, saying their alliance is in a good place and can get even better.

McIlroy has not changed his general position on LIV very over the years. Only a few weeks ago, he was asked whether golfers such as Rahm and DeChambeau could bring value to the PGA Tour if they returned.

“I mean, I’d argue, have they brought value to LIV?” McIlroy said at the BMW Championship.

The experienced golfer stressed at the time that the road back to the PGA Tour could be difficult for some players.

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour earlier this year under a special set of conditions. He agreed to financial penalties and restrictions connected to his return, while other LIV names were offered a path back for a limited period.

LIV Golf still plans to return in 2027

The bankruptcy filing does not mean LIV Golf has immediately disappeared. The league has said it wants to continue and return in 2027 under a different ownership and financial model.

LIV stated that it is winding down the current version of the business while trying to complete a transaction with new investors. BC Partners has been named as part of that process, while the new structure is expected to give players a bigger ownership position.

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said the process gives the league time to work on its next chapter.

“This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf,” O’Neil said.

However, there is still no confirmed 2027 schedule. LIV has stressed that no definitive decisions about individual events have been announced.

The uncertainty puts more focus on players such as Rahm, DeChambeau, Smith and Hatton. Rahm has already said there are still many things that could happen and that time will give the answer.

“I still have a contract with LIV 1.0 that I’m more than willing to fulfil, so like I said, time will tell,” Rahm told BBC Sport this week.

Some LIV players are competing on the DP World Tour. Rahm, Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Tom McKibbin, Sergio Garcia, David Puig and Laurie Canter are among the LIV names in the Irish Open field this week.

That creates several possible paths if players decide not to continue with the new LIV model.

McIlroy believes that could eventually help tournaments outside LIV because more top golfers may become available again. For now, no departures have been officially confirmed.

The bankruptcy process is still at an early stage, and LIV says its goal is to complete the restructuring and come back in 2027. The next weeks should give more information about which players will stay and which ones may look for another place to continue their careers.