The Saudi Arabia funded LIV Golf’s future appears tenuous as the league’s leadership looks for ways forward amid speculation that the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund may pull its funding.
High-level executives are reportedly meeting about the league’s next steps while also beginning new job searches, according to several golf industry sources. Members of the LIV leadership team were reportedly told on Sunday, following the Masters Tournament, that they would soon lose their positions.
Former ESPN anchor Trey Wingo backed the reporting after his own sources indicated that LIV was “preparing to wind down operations as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) reassesses its broader strategy amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.” Wingo added that LIV was “fully funded” through 2031, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had decided to “pull the rug” on the golf operation.
CEO Scott O’Neil told LIV Golf staff in an email on Wednesday that the 2026 season will continue as planned, without pause, as the league is fully funded through the end of the year.
LIV Golf’s launch in June 2022 was meant to disrupt and challenge the existing structure of professional golf, creating a rival league for the PGA Tour. In reality, LIV Golf has struggled to bring in top names after an initial wave of substantial signings while bleeding money — paying high-priced salaries and putting on events that no one was watching.
Critics said the venture was an arm of rehabilitation for Saudi Arabia following human rights abuses and corruption.
Nearly three years ago, LIV Golf rocked the sports world when it announced an agreement with the PGA Tour to join forces. Since then, however, the sides have seemingly made little progress to finalize the merger.
Trump golf courses have hosted several LIV events.