Sergio Garcia insists he hasn't made a final decision about his future, but a new bankruptcy court filing suggests the former Masters champion is taking steps to sever his ties with LIV Golf as the league's future remains uncertain.
In a filing submitted Wednesday in LIV Golf's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, Garcia and his company, Even Par LLC, told the court they do not oppose the rejection of his LIV agreement. What they do want is clarity. Garcia is asking the bankruptcy judge to either declare the contract terminated or allow him to terminate it himself.
The distinction may sound like legal jargon, but it could have major implications for Garcia's future. Under bankruptcy law, rejecting a contract is considered a breach, not a termination.
Garcia's attorneys argue that leaving the agreement technically in place could create uncertainty for tournament organizers, sponsors and other business partners as he explores what's next.
A sign that LIV Golf's bankruptcy is entering a more serious phase came on Sept. 9 when the U.S. Trustee's Office began soliciting creditors to serve on an official committee of unsecured creditors. The committee, typically made up of some of the largest creditors in a Chapter 11 case, represents the interests of all unsecured creditors and could play a significant role in investigating LIV's finances, negotiating a restructuring plan and influencing what a reorganized "LIV 2.0" ultimately looks like. The filing shows that the government expects creditors to have an active voice as the league works through bankruptcy in an attempt to chart a path beyond 2026.
After taking a year away from DP World Tour membership, Garcia recently confirmed he plans to return to the European circuit in 2027. The 46-year-old Spaniard has already resumed playing selected DP World Tour events and said during last week's BMW International Open that he expects to make several more starts before the end of the season.
"It's obviously something that I've always said that I wanted to do," Garcia said. "At 46, I can't play 30 events a year, but I'm going to make an effort to see if I can at least play a handful and try to do my best there."
Garcia's renewed interest in the DP World Tour comes as LIV Golf's future remains clouded. The league lost its funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund after 2026, forcing LIV executives to seek outside investors and explore restructuring options.
Notably, Garcia's filing references those restructuring efforts. His attorneys specifically state that nothing in the court filing should be interpreted as a "final and irreversible determination" regarding a future relationship with any successor entity that emerges from LIV's bankruptcy process.
In other words, Garcia isn't slamming the door shut, but he is making it clear that he wants the freedom to pursue other opportunities.
That shouldn't surprise anyone. Garcia has long maintained ties to the DP World Tour and remains one of Europe's most accomplished players. The 2017 Masters champion holds a 25-13-7 Ryder Cup record in 10 appearances and spent years as a cornerstone of European teams before joining LIV in 2022.
After initially refusing to pay fines imposed by the DP World Tour following LIV's launch, Garcia later repaired that relationship in hopes of earning a place on Europe's Ryder Cup team. Although he was ultimately left off the side that won at Bethpage Black, his recent comments suggest he still values a presence on the European circuit.
He's also still playing solid golf. Garcia was 10th in LIV's 2026 season-long points standings and finished runner-up at LIV Golf Virginia and fourth at LIV Andalucia during his last three starts.
Yet the timing of the bankruptcy filing, combined with his planned DP World Tour return, suggests Garcia is positioning himself for flexibility rather than committing to whatever version of LIV emerges from restructuring, meaning one of LIV Golf's most recognizable original stars wants to ensure he's no longer contractually bound to the league as it navigates bankruptcy.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Sergio Garcia seeks termination of LIV Golf contract amid bankruptcy. Why?
