ST ANDREWS — Adrian Meronk has reportedly ruled himself out of joining LIV Golf 2.0, hot on the heels of Jon Rahm, after his emotional victory at Sunday's Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews secured his DP World Tour future.
According to Eurosport's Jacek Person, Meronk "has no intention" of signing up for the new LIV Golf iteration. The report follows a bankruptcy hearing on Wednesday where Rahm's lawyer said the Spaniard would not be signing for LIV 2.0 and would end his three-year stay with the team-based tour after finding the terms offered to stay "unacceptable". Meronk had said in Poland ahead of the Dunhill Links that he "will wait a long time" before making a decision on his LIV future due to uncertainty surrounding its survival.
Meronk's fifth DP World Tour victory proved timely and appears to have clarified his thinking. The 33-year-old, who has held DP World Tour status since 2020 and was one of eight players alongside Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to do a deal to retain that status for this year, had status only until the end of this season. Sunday's win guarantees him a full card for 2027. Reflecting at the Old Course, he said: “It’s unreal to be honest. I never usually cry but this one feels special. I’m sorry, I’m just lost for words. It’s been quite a tough year for me and to win here after ten years since turning pro, it’s a dream come true.” He added: “After my drive on 18 I was quite happy with the position I was in and I was just trying to enjoy the walk. It’s an amazing walk when you cross the bridge, you look around and see the people and this history,” and “Actually, when I was crossing the bridge I was actually thinking about Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus walking on the bridge. It was a great feeling and I really enjoyed the walk.”
Rahm is the first big name to officially rule himself out of LIV 2.0, while Sergio Garcia has asked for his contract to be cancelled to negotiate his future as a free agent. The likes of Cameron Smith, Byeong-hun An, Marc Leishman, Cameron Tringale and Matthew Wolff also had lawyers present at Wednesday's hearing to make similar requests as players seek to ensure they are free agents. The developments follow Jon Rahm to leave LIV Golf over 'unacceptable' terms and Sergio Garcia cleared to exit his LIV Golf contract, with court documents showing Meronk is owed $4.4m as one of the larger creditors among the players.
The proposed finance deal with BC Partners gave LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil until 25 October to get at least two-thirds of the voting creditors from at least 50% of the total claims signed up for the new league format for it to go ahead. That deadline has already been extended and BC Partners could waive it completely while discussions continue, but concern will grow that if Garcia, like Rahm a team captain, leaves LIV Golf along with Meronk then others will quickly follow.