Westwood 'unemployed' amid LIV uncertainty as Rahm discusses exit

Westwood 'unemployed' amid LIV uncertainty as Rahm discusses exit

ByJonathan JurejkoBBC Sport golf reporter and Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport journalist

Lee Westwood says he has not signed for LIV 2.0 or held talks with the DP World Tour about a return, leaving the European Ryder Cup legend "unemployed" as he considers his future.

The 53-year-old Englishman was among the high-profile players lured to LIV Golf when the controversial Saudi-backed breakaway tour began in 2022.

LIV's future remains unclear after Saudi's Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its backing - having pumped in more than $5bn (£3.8bn) - and led to the league filing for bankruptcy protection last month.

It has secured a possible $300m (£224m) in financing from BC Partners Credit to try to move forward with LIV 2.0, but only a handful of players have so far committed to the proposed competition in 2027.

In an interview with The Chipping Forecast podcast,, external Westwood said: "I'm currently unemployed.

"There hasn't been anything presented to me that is agreeable for LIV 2.0, there are still a lot of things on that which need fine-tuning. I haven't signed for 2.0. I haven't signed anything."

Westwood has been heavily criticised for pursuing the vast sums of money offered by LIV.

The move cost him the chance to captain the European Ryder Cup in 2023, but he says he would have "been stupid" not to set himself up financially for life.

"I've made a fortune over the last four and a half years," added Westwood, who is reported to have won £16m in prize money on the LIV tour.

"I don't really have to play golf again, but I still love playing golf so it's given the option what to do over the next few years."

Fellow European Ryder Cup player Jon Rahm says he decided to leave LIV because he "wasn't willing to follow the path" taken by the league as it fights for survival.

It was the first time the 31-year-old Spaniard has spoken publicly since securing his exit from the series in October by reaching a separation agreement.

Rahm was the reigning Masters champion when he was convinced to join LIV - a seismic move which underlined the scale of the league's ambition.

"As much as I liked the project and the idea on, let's say, LIV 1.0, I wasn't thrilled with the changes they were doing to 2.0," Rahm said at the Abu Dhabi Championship, his first event since leaving LIV.

"It wasn't anything special, anything that stood out. I just didn't like where they were going with 2.0."

Rahm joined LIV in a deal worth a reported $300m (£222m), only to leave last month with $100m (£75m) - according to ESPN - owed on the remainder of the contract.

"There were too many unknowns," added the two-time major winner. "It seemed like it was going a bit away from team golf.

"It became more of a regular tournament. It wasn't really ever much of a consideration."

Rahm is among several big-name players to leave LIV in recent weeks, along with Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Graeme McDowell.

Westwood remains unsure what he will do next, but he does believe the proposed LIV 2.0 still has the potential to thrive.

"With the way the business was structured, there was too much waste really," he said.

"I think there is a business there - if LIV 2.0 gets off the ground it will be a successful business. Can they get the players? Time will tell."

What Westwood must do to rejoin DP World Tour

If Westwood does not rejoin LIV, the former world number one could look for a way back to the DP World Tour.

Westwood is a giant of European golf, having won 25 times on the tour and played in 11 Ryder Cups, but an attempt to rejoin the fold would require patience.

Westwood could only return if he accepts a 10-tournament suspension, which was imposed as punishment for resigning his membership when he joined LIV.

"I'm yet to have everything put out in front of me. I've not really had any sort of dialogue with the European Tour," Westwood added.

"I know that if I sign up on 12 November, I've got to serve a 10-tournament suspension, which takes me through the South African Open.

"The first event I could play would be Turkey in May. But I'm not even sure about that yet."