Report: LIV Golf provides huge update on contract renewals that could have big impact

LIV Golf bosses have told their biggest stars that huge upfront payments will not be dished out like they were before should they decide to extend their contracts with the breakaway league, according to Golfweek's Eamon Lynch. 

A number of LIV Golf players will see their contracts come to an end this season, none bigger than two-time major champion Dustin Johnson.

Despite looking a shadow of his former World No.1 best these days, Johnson, 40, is still a force to be reckoned with on the league with three wins to his name.

Johnson is also the captain of 4Aces GC, a position he has assumed since he accepted an estimated $200m to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf in the summer of 2022. 

But he has in the past made it clear he intends to quit the sport in the near future as he wishes to become a sports dad, so it remains to be seen just how much longer DJ sticks about in the professional game. 

Other superstar names such as five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau will see their LIV Golf contracts expire at the end of the 2026 season. 

Koepka and DeChambeau both accepted in the region of an approximate $125m for joining LIV Golf in 2022. 

Jon Rahm, who joined LIV Golf last season for an estimated record fee of $450m, has a number of years left on his contract, so the Spaniard doesn't have to worry about his deal anytime soon. 

Confirmed: LIV Golf contract renewals will NOT repeat huge upfront payments 

Per Golfweek's Eamon Lynch, it has been agreed by those above on PIF that there will be no more big upfront fees distributed to LIV Golf players should they wish to extend their contracts in the near future.

The update is likely going to give players a big decision to make as to whether they want to stick with LIV Golf or twist and return to the PGA Tour, especially now PGA Tour Signature Events have very similar prize pots to LIV Golf League events at $20m.

LIV Golf also still does not benefit from Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, and resulting Ryder Cup qualification points, unlike on the PGA Tour. 

"Johnson’s LIV servitude expires this year, but he seems happily checked out from career ambition," writes Lynch.

"DeChambeau and Koepka can walk away in ’26 if they wish.

"Only Rahm has a lengthy term ahead as Al-Rumayyan’s asset.

"LIV told its stars that any contract renewals won’t repeat the huge upfront payments that first lured them to the Saudi teat, so the earnings gap between the circuits has narrowed significantly, at least for those who are competitively relevant."

As it stands, there has still been no further update on the PGA Tour's pending deal with LIV Golf's bankrollers, PIF, a partnership that would go some way to unifying the professional game once again. 

Although World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is not particularly bothered what happens as he continues to rack up titles, he is certainly ready to welcome back some of his former PGA Tour peers should they wish to return. 

"If you want to figure out what's going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour [LIV] and ask those guys," Scheffler said at the Charles Schwab Challenge last week. 

"I'm still here playing the PGA Tour. We had a tour where we all played together, and the guys that left, so it's their responsibility I think to bring the tours back together.

"Go see where they're playing this week and ask them."

Lynch concludes in his latest column for Golfweek that with LIV Golf now telling its players there will no longer be chunky upfront payments for them, the door could very well be open for them to return to the PGA Tour. 

"If all that the PGA Tour wants by way of reunification is the return of the few men who matter, then it can simply wait until they’re contractually free and do what Scottie suggested, go ask ‘em."