Lee Westwood, the 53-year-old English golf veteran and former world number one, says he is currently "unemployed" after not re-signing for the proposed LIV 2.0 circuit and not holding talks with the DP World Tour about a return.
Westwood: 'I'm currently unemployed'
Westwood, who has won 25 times on the DP World Tour and played in 11 Ryder Cups, was among the high-profile players who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league when it launched in 2022. The league's future has been thrown into doubt after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its backing — having invested more than $5 billion (£3.8 billion) — leading LIV to file for bankruptcy protection last month. A possible $300 million (£224 million) financing package from BC Partners Credit aims to launch LIV 2.0 in 2027, but only a handful of players have committed so far.
Speaking on The Chipping Forecast podcast, 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." He added that he has earned a reported £16 million in prize money on the LIV tour and does not have to play golf again financially, but still loves the game.
Rahm unwilling to follow LIV 2.0 path
Fellow European Ryder Cup star Jon Rahm, 31, has also left LIV Golf, stating he "wasn't willing to follow the path" the league is taking as it fights for survival. Rahm, who joined LIV in a deal worth a reported $300 million (£222 million) while reigning Masters champion, reached a separation agreement in October, leaving a reported $100 million (£75 million) owed on the remainder of his contract.
"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 departing. "There were too many unknowns. It seemed like it was going a bit away from team golf. It became more of a regular tournament."
Rahm is among several big-name players to exit LIV in recent weeks, alongside Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Graeme McDowell.
Westwood sees potential in LIV 2.0 but faces DP World Tour hurdles
Despite the uncertainty, Westwood believes LIV 2.0 could still thrive if structured more efficiently. "With the way the business was structured, there was too much waste really. 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," he said.
If Westwood does not return to LIV, a move back to the DP World Tour would require him to serve a 10-tournament suspension imposed for resigning his membership when he joined LIV. The earliest he could play would be the Turkish Airlines Open in May, provided he signs up by 12 November. Westwood noted he has yet to have any dialogue with the European Tour about a possible return.
