YOKOHAMA — Xander Schauffele said Jon Rahm is acting in his own best interest as the two-time major champion seeks to terminate his LIV Golf contract, with his lawyer stating the team is in "advanced talks" to finalize a release before November 15, according to GolfMagic. Schauffele addressed the situation after posting a 6-under-par 65 in the third round of the Baycurrent Classic to reach 9-under overall, four shots behind the leaders at 13-under.
The American, competing in Yokohama as the defending champion, offered a perspective grounded in personal choice rather than league politics. According to GolfMagic, Schauffele told reporters he has obviously done what benefits him, just as everyone else does. "He's just doing whatever he thinks is best for himself," the two-time major champion added. "I don't know if the Tour has offered him a spot like they had that window before," Schauffele said, noting the DP World Tour might be the most likely destination given the PGA Tour's current stance.
Rahm reportedly found the proposed terms for the league's reimagined version unacceptable. The move comes after LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States last month and the Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing in March, leaving the tour in a precarious financial spot. The league owes millions of dollars to its players, while London-based investment firm BC Partners reportedly secured the possibility of $300 million in financing to keep the circuit running. Last month, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp stated that LIV players under contract will not be discussed, and the Tour has not reopened its returning-member program.
That leaves Rahm in a complicated position. He turned down the chance to rejoin the PGA Tour in January, a window that Brooks Koepka successfully used, while Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith also declined that offer. Without a reopened program, Rahm might not have a clear path back to the main tour until 2028, when he could be eligible for the proposed Championship Series due to his Masters triumph three years ago. The broader context includes deep trust issues, with Schauffele previously demanding commissioner Jay Monahan resign after the framework agreement with the PIF was announced in June 2023. "I would be lying if I said that I have a whole lot of trust after what happened," he previously said, according to GolfMagic.
On the course, Schauffele delivered a roller-coaster 65 that kept him in contention heading into Sunday's final round. After starting with a bogey, he sank two birdies plus an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, then added another eagle on the par-5 sixth following a double bogey. Schauffele, who secured Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, called it a strange day and told Yahoo Sports that if he had been told he would shoot 65, he likely would have accepted it. Michael Brennan, Zach Bauchou and Jacob Bridgeman lead at 13-under, with Adam Scott and Justin Thomas among the chasing pack. The final round will test whether Schauffele can defend his title as he closed within four in Japan and the golf world watches whether Rahm's potential exit signals a larger trend from the struggling league.