Sergio Garcia asks bankruptcy court to end his LIV Golf contract

Sergio Garcia, one of LIV Golf’s original signings and captain of Fireballs GC, has filed a motion in the US Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey asking for his LIV contract to be formally terminated. The six-page filing was first reported by Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard on Thursday.

Since entering Chapter 11 on 8 September, LIV has told the court that many existing player contracts are not part of its plans. Garcia’s filing argues that ending the agreement is consistent with LIV’s own statement that it is “not part of [LIV’s] go forward business plan”, according to Golf Channel. Golf Monthly reports the filing warns that tournament organisers and sponsors may hesitate to deal with Garcia while his contractual status is unclear. Rather than wait for the contract to be rejected as part of the wider restructuring, he wants to be a free agent now.

Garcia has recently confirmed that he intends to play on the DP World Tour in 2027, Golf Channel says. LIV sources told Golf Monthly that requests like this are routine in Chapter 11 cases and that the court will decide. The filing does not rule out Garcia signing up to a new LIV on new terms.

Kooyonga sets a 6 November deadline

Kooyonga Golf Club, which replaced The Grange as host of LIV Golf Adelaide, scheduled for 18–21 March 2027, has filed its own motion asking the court to decide whether LIV will honour the hosting agreement.

The contract required LIV to pay half of the hosting fee by early July, GOLF.com reports; LIV asked for an extension shortly before it filed for bankruptcy, and the payment was never made. The club has cited around $134,000 in out-of-pocket costs and wants answers by 6 November. Judge Michael Kaplan has set 22 October to rule on its request.

South Australia’s treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, told local media he still hoped the event would go ahead but no longer expected it to. He said taxpayers were not exposed, because government funding is paid only after the event.

Back in court on 7 October

The court has also appointed a seven-member unsecured creditors committee. Golf Channel reports it includes representatives of Premier Golf League, Birdie Golf LLC, Rick Shiels Media and Fever Labs.

The case returns to court on 7 October, and 13 October remains the deadline for LIV to sign enough players to new terms to keep BC Partners’ proposed investment on track, as we explained last week. We think Garcia’s filing gives other players a template for forcing the issue, and every one who follows before 13 October makes BC Partners’ target harder to reach. Jon Rahm has said he cannot give an answer on his future yet, and Cameron Smith has described the players as being in limbo, as we reported on Wednesday.

Sources

• Golf Channel: Amid LIV bankruptcy case, Sergio Garcia files to terminate contract with league
• Golf Monthly: Sergio Garcia files to have LIV Golf contract terminated
• GOLF.com: LIV Golf’s future is battling its past, new bankruptcy filings reveal
• Golf Monthly: LIV Golf Adelaide ‘looking unlikely’ in 2027 as host venue sets legal deadline
• Golfmagic: LIV Golf faces fresh legal headache over Australian tournament
• LIV Golf: LIV Golf takes strategic action to secure its next era