Lee Westwood says he is "unemployed" as LIV Golf faces a potential shutdown, joining stars like Jon Rahm in exiting the league amid missed 2.0 deadlines

As LIV Golf confronts a potential shutdown, two-time major champion Lee Westwood spoke candidly about his departure and facing "unemployment."

Westwood is one of many golfers set to depart the league. Among them is two-time major champion Jon Rahm, who expressed a strong desire to return to the PGA Tour and stated he would willingly accept the penalties previously assigned to Brooks Koepka if it meant coming back.

Ian Poulter and former major champion Louis Oosthuizen are also part of this group, along with Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton. While several players retain prospects with the DP World Tour or have yet to clarify their next steps, Westwood noted that his job title has been wiped.

“I am currently unemployed. I haven't signed up to anything anywhere. I haven't made a decision on anything yet,” Westwood told the Chipping Forecast podcast.

Westwood has been named European Tour Golfer of the Year four times, most recently in 2020.

“I'm yet to have everything put out in front of me. I've not really had any sort of dialogue with the European Tour," said Westwood.

"I know that if I sign up on the 12th of November, I've then got to serve a 10 tournament suspension, which takes me through the South African Open.

“I've looked at the schedule after that. I feel like the first event I could play on the European Tour would be maybe Turkey, which is the first week in May. So I haven't looked any further than that.”

Westwood served as a co-captain for Majesticks GC during the 2026 LIV Golf season, and the former World No. 1 and seven-time European Ryder Cup winner played in 12 events in 2026 alone. His season highlights include a tie for third at LIV Golf New York in August after posting a second-round 65 and a final-round 72.

While LIV Golf 2.0 offered distinct advantages, the uncertainties surrounding its future drove several marquee names away from the breakaway league. Following the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) decision to halt funding in late April, BC Partners stepped in as the league’s primary new investor.

“There's nothing that was presented to me that was agreeable for LIV 2.0,” said Westwood. “There's still a lot of things that would need fine tuning. Deadlines have come and gone, and I've heard nothing, whether I have to sign or I don't have to sign.”

Initial deadlines of Oct 13, 2026 and Oct 25, 2026 were repeatedly delayed as BC Partners and league officials worked to secure essential player commitments.

“I haven't signed 2.0. I haven't signed anything,” continued Westwood. “This RSA everybody talks about, I haven't signed that. So literally, I'm unemployed. And I've looked at the start of next year, and I'm going to enter the Sunningdale Foursomes with Sam, my son, first week in March.

“And then there's a senior's event the week after the Masters, PGA Senior's Championship in Florida. So that might be the first two tournaments that I play before teaming up in Turkey if I did re-sign with the European Tour, but I'm not even sure about that.”