Richard Bland is the first player to commit publicly to LIV 2.0

Richard Bland will play in the restructured LIV league if it goes ahead, and Golf Monthly reports he is the first player to say so publicly.

Bland, 53, made the commitment in an interview with Flushing It Golf. He is barred from PGA TOUR Champions until next August and has no wish to rebuild a DP World Tour career from the bottom at his age. Apart from Europe’s Legends Tour, he said, “I have nowhere else to play.”

If LIV does not survive, he plans to play the senior majors instead. He has already won two, both in 2024: the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open.

A week of departures

• Jon Rahm: his lawyer told the bankruptcy court in New Jersey on 7 October that the LIV 2.0 terms were unacceptable. A separation agreement is being negotiated, with a target of mid-October (our report).
• Sergio Garcia: released from his contract by the court on 6 October. He has not ruled out LIV 2.0 and expects to decide within about two weeks.
• David Puig: said in Madrid on 8 October that he does not see himself in LIV 2.0 (our report).
• Adrian Meronk: Eurosport’s Jacek Person reports that the Alfred Dunhill Links champion has no intention of extending his contract. Meronk has not confirmed this. Golf Monthly says court documents show he is owed $4.4m.
• Cameron Smith, Matthew Wolff, Marc Leishman, Byeong Hun An, Cameron Tringale and Harold Varner III: Golf Digest reports that they are among the players seeking release deals similar to Garcia’s. The league has reportedly asked for an extra week to review Smith’s request. Asking for a release is not the same as leaving.

Joaquin Niemann says he will decide in a couple of weeks. Bryson DeChambeau, whose original contract has expired, has said nothing publicly.

The two-thirds test

BC Partners, LIV’s rescue investor, has put back its deadline for player commitments from 13 October to 25 October, and can withdraw if the target is missed. Citing court documents, Golf Digest reports that BC’s initial committed investment is $4m, rising to as much as $300m if the bankruptcy court approves the plan.

As we explained earlier this month, the target has two parts: at least half of the players with claims against LIV must commit, and so must players holding at least two-thirds of the value of those claims. Bland helps with the first. The second depends on the players owed most, and Rahm, the biggest creditor of all, is leaving.

Bland acknowledges the risk. He told BBC South Today last month that the funding was in place, but that there was no guarantee of a new league without enough player support.

Sources

• Golf Monthly: Richard Bland reveals why he’s signing up for LIV 2.0
• Golf Monthly: Adrian Meronk “has no intention” of signing for LIV Golf 2.0, report
• Golf Digest: All the players who have left LIV Golf (so far)
• Golf Digest: LIV Golf player commitment deadline delayed
• GOLF.com: Another LIV star eyes exit following Jon Rahm’s departure