The golf world is bracing for a seismic shift as Saudi Arabia prepares to pull its multi-billion dollar funding from LIV Golf at the end of the current season, casting serious doubt on the breakaway tour's future. According to well-placed sources, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to announce a "new strategic plan" on Thursday, seeking fresh financial investors and new board members to steer the organization forward.
This development comes amid reports that PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who co-founded LIV in 2021 and has been its most powerful figure, may step down from the tour's board. The move signals a major pivot for the series, which has been heavily bankrolled by an eye-watering $5 billion (£3.8 billion) from PIF since its inception, including a recent $267 million (£229 million) injection this year.
LIV Golf has already taken a hit, postponing its June event in New Orleans and leaving a gap in its US schedule from May 10 until August 6, when it resumes at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey. Despite these challenges, tour executives remain hopeful, emphasizing that LIV is in "constructive" talks with potential investors and exploring opportunities to "reposition" the business. Sources indicate the tour is on track to earn $100 million (£86 million) more in 2026 than last season, though officials acknowledge the series may need to be significantly scaled back with fewer events.
Team captains have been warned about Thursday's announcement, which will outline plans to find new financial backers. This follows LIV CEO Scott O'Neil's recent assurance to players that the 2026 season would continue "as planned and uninterrupted," though he avoided addressing the long-term outlook. The uncertainty comes as PIF shifts its strategy toward more sustainable investments, leaving LIV to navigate a future without its primary benefactor. With net losses outside the US ballooning to $462 million (£340 million) in 2024, the tour's survival hinges on securing new partners and adapting its ambitious model—a challenge that will redefine the landscape of professional golf.