Morikawa says LIV players face 'business decision' after Rahm's confirmed exit

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahm-jon/h41jCwka/"]Rahm[/a]'s decision to leave LIV due to "unacceptable" terms deals a significant blow to the divisive tour as it attempts to relaunch itself after declaring bankruptcy.[/p][p]Along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dechambeau-bryson/vZG7Cn7s/"]Bryson DeChambeau[/a], double major winner and former world number one Rahm was arguably the most prominent golfer to defect from the PGA Tour and join the free-spending, Saudi-backed league.[/p][p]But LIV filed for bankruptcy protection last month after its deep-pocketed Middle Eastern backers pulled the plug.[/p][p]The tour is trying to relaunch next year with new investors as "LIV 2.0". Retaining popular stars like Rahm has been widely seen as critical to its prospects.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/morikawa-collin/0UlRrMgE/"]Morikawa[/a], in Japan to play the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic, told AFP that [b]"everyone has their own choice to make".[/b][/p][p][b]"It's a business decision, it's a decision that a lot of guys aren't going to take lightly,"[/b] said Morikawa.[/p][p]"Are you able to go to sleep at night, keep waking up motivated, doing what you love, going out and achieving your goals and whatever those goals might be?[/p][p][b]"It's whatever platform that's going to be best set at,"[/b] he added.[/p][embed guid="b7bc3f88-3547-4b42-a997-2eba0fcfbe54" url="https://x.com/TaylorMadeGolf/status/2107972364902519238" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rahm's lawyer John Beck told a US Bankruptcy Court of New Jersey hearing on Wednesday that the player would "not be participating going forward in LIV 2.0".[/p][p]Beck said that "advanced discussions for a consensual separation agreement of Mr. Rahm and LIV" are ongoing, according to a courtroom audio recording verified by AFP.[/p][h2]No way back[/h2][p]Morikawa said he did not know where Rahm would play in the future and added that [b]"you don't get many second chances in life".[/b][/p][p]"I don't know if this is a second chance, I don't know what opportunities they're going to have but at the same time I think you're going to see a lot of them play on the DP World," he said.[/p][p][b]"I don't know about the top guys but you're going to see a lot of them potentially go over there.[/b][/p][p]"It's going to strengthen world golf."[/p][p]The PGA has no plans to offer LIV players a pathway back, chief executive officer Brian Rolapp said in August.[/p][p]While the PGA Tour offered a temporary path back for some LIV players - five-time major winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koepka-brooks/t0xtKfZH/"]Brooks Koepka[/a] in January took advantage, paying financial penalties - no repeats are planned, said Rolapp.[/p][p]Morikawa said that "a lot of the LIV guys are trying to figure out what's next".[/p][p][b]"Hopefully we can all step forward and forget about what has happened and go out and enjoy golf for what it is again,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]Morikawa, who won the 2023 Baycurrent Classic under its former name, was four shots off the lead after carding a 4-under-par 67 on the opening day at Yokohama Country Club.[/p][p]American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bridgeman-jacob/xdp19XIg/"]Jacob Bridgeman[/a] was out in front on 8-under, one shot ahead of England's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-jordan/M9dWuDei/"]Jordan Smith[/a].[/p][p]Defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schauffele-xander/OnIoiVkm/"]Xander Schauffele[/a] was at 1-under after going round in 70.[/p][p]Japan's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matsuyama-hideki/GOHJOEb5/"]Hideki Matsuyama[/a] was on 4-under.[/p]