LIV Golf is set to inform its players and staff this week that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) will cease funding the circuit after the current season, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The respected publication stated on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) that LIV Golf would notify its players and staff by Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. LIV did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Background of LIV Golf
Launched in 2022 and backed by the PIF, the LIV circuit disrupted professional golf by signing several top players to lucrative contracts, including major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson. Tournaments have proven extremely popular with golf fans worldwide, with the LIV event in Adelaide becoming a massive drawcard for the South Australian capital.
Recent Conflicting Reports
The Wall Street Journal report comes two weeks after sources close to the matter told Reuters that LIV's 2026 season would proceed as scheduled with the full backing of the PIF, pushing back against reports of a funding crisis. LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil told players in an email seen by Reuters that the season would continue "exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle."
LIV has sought to grow golf globally but has faced criticism from human rights groups, who accuse Saudi Arabia of using sport to improve its reputation despite its human rights record. The Saudi government denies accusations of human rights abuses.
PGA Tour and Future of LIV Players
The PGA Tour, PIF, and Europe-based DP World Tour announced a framework agreement in June 2023 to combine their commercial operations, but a definitive deal has yet to be completed. According to the Wall Street Journal, the PGA Tour is not prepared to automatically welcome back LIV players, with any returns likely assessed on a case-by-case basis. Brooks Koepka and former Masters champion Patrick Reed have already left LIV in recent months.
Ripper GC Manager Comments
The latest development comes just hours after Ripper GC general manager Nick Adams told 7NEWS.com.au that it was business as usual for the teams. "I can only speak to what I know is true: we are being told by our leadership to continue as usual, which we have, and it has been business as usual for us," Adams said.
"A lot of this catastrophising and conjecture is coming out of the US. Our investor, the PIF, has not made a public statement regarding the future of LIV. There hasn't been a statement from them saying, 'Hey, we are not supporting LIV anymore, hey, we are not supporting golf anymore.'
"So, listen, I think there are a lot of sectors across all businesses that are concerned about anything happening in the Middle East right now. The Iranian crisis is going on a lot longer than people expected, so I think people are drawing parallels with what is happening in the region with LIV Golf and other sports that the Saudis are involved in through the PIF fund, and we are not immune to that.
"But there has certainly been nothing on our end which has suggested it is not business as usual. We are continuing on as we always have, and that is the only information I have at this stage."
