Lucas Herbert has become the first Australian player to announce his departure from LIV Golf, marking a significant setback for the embattled league as it seeks to regroup ahead of the 2027 season. Herbert confirmed he would pursue a full-time playing schedule on the DP World Tour next year and will not move forward with negotiations for a new player equity-based contract proposed under LIV Golf’s planned relaunch, commonly referred to as LIV 2.0.
Herbert, 30, rose to prominence in 2026 as one of the top performers on LIV Golf, capturing two individual victories in Virginia and the United Kingdom, and finishing tied sixth at The Open Championship after narrowly missing a record-setting round. His decision to leave underlines growing uncertainty surrounding the future of LIV Golf after its primary financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, withdrew multibillion-dollar support at the end of the current season.
The league’s survival now hinges on securing a “critical mass” of players to commit to the revamped competition, which is reportedly backed by private equity firm BC Partners. The group has offered a $300 million bailout package contingent on attracting enough players willing to sign on for the next phase of the league. LIV had set a deadline on Monday (AEDT) for players to declare their intentions, although binding contracts are not required at this stage — only non-binding commitments to allow further negotiations.
Herbert is part of a growing list of high-profile players departing LIV Golf, including Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, David Puig, Louis Oosthuizen, and Ian Poulter. Rahm’s attorney recently described the proposed terms of LIV’s restructuring as “unacceptable” during bankruptcy proceedings, highlighting the legal and financial challenges facing the league. Others like former major winners Garcia and Poulter appear to be shifting focus toward traditional golf pathways, such as the Ryder Cup and senior competitions.
Cameron Smith, the former world number two and Herbert’s teammate on the all-Australian Ripper GC team, alongside Marc Leishman and Elvis Smylie, has yet to make a final decision on his future with LIV. The trio has recently competed in DP World Tour events in Europe, fueling speculation that they may pivot away from LIV Golf. Leishman is considered the most likely to remain, while Smith is at a pivotal point in his career as he enters the final year of exemption into all four major championships following his 2022 Open Championship victory.
LIV Golf is reportedly preparing a 10-event schedule for 2027, pending sufficient player commitments. The league recently dispatched a senior executive to South Australia for discussions with government and local officials ahead of a planned tournament in Adelaide next March. However, South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has indicated it is “unlikely” LIV will continue beyond this year, despite an existing deal to host events through 2031. He emphasized that any cessation of LIV events would not impose costs on taxpayers.
Financial disclosures from LIV’s bankruptcy filings have revealed that both Smith and Herbert are among the league’s largest unsecured creditors, owed significant overdue payments for their 2026 contracts. The documents also confirmed that former LIV Golf figurehead and former world number one Greg Norman received a substantial settlement and bonus package upon his departure last year.
With LIV Golf’s future uncertain, players like Herbert appear to be prioritizing established professional tours to secure playing opportunities and major championship access in the coming seasons. The league’s ongoing financial instability and legal challenges present major obstacles as it attempts to reorganize and sustain interest among players and fans.