LIV Golf has stated its aim to secure long-term funding in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s decision to pull the plug and abandon the project.
An announcement at midday surprised insiders at the league by making no mention of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, whose decision to walk away at the end of this current season has sparked turmoil.
But the breakaway circuit does believe it can somehow survive the existential crisis, with the ambitious hope spelled out in a vague release to flag up the appointment of two new board members.
Crucially, they did not mention PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who sources insist will depart with his cash when the 2026 campaign closes – a scenario outlined to LIV stars across the past fortnight.
In a statement notable mainly for what it chose not to disclose, LIV said: ‘LIV Golf, the global golf league blending world-class competition with entertainment and culture to grow the game worldwide, today announced new board appointments as the league focuses on securing long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model.
‘This strategic evolution, accelerated by the league’s record-breaking performance in 2026, includes the appointment of a newly established independent board led by Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, seasoned experts with proven track records of navigating complex situations and unlocking value for global organizations, to guide the league through its next phase.
Saudi Arabia’s involvement in LIV Golf appears to be over following Thursday’s announcement
Jon Rahm (left) and Dustin Johnson are among the golfers who joined LIV’s lucrative tour
‘Mr. Davis and Mr. Zinman, working in lockstep with management, are focused on institutionalising the league and evaluating the range of strategic opportunities that have emerged with the league’s rise.
‘Those track records in ‘complex situations’ will be necessary for the continued existence of a league that is believed to be losing around £75million a month and has cost the Saudis around £5billion to date.
Having launched their inaugural campaign in 2022 under Al-Rumayyan, the Saudi PIF will bankroll the league until the end of this season before cutting their losses.
Although it is unlikely to be stated publicly at this stage, one of the survival measures believed to be under consideration is a possible reduction in the playing schedule from 14 tournaments. Such a cut might be essential in consideration of each event currently costing $30m in prize money alone.
LIV’s immediate future, and particularly the retention of Bryson DeChambeau, whose deal is up at the end of the current season, will be contingent on new money pouring in. Daily Mail Sport previously reported that they were looking to private equity to plug that immense shortfall left by the Saudis, with an internal conviction that it will be forthcoming.
Intriguingly, one senior LIV source believes lucrative new avenues will be opened via the removal of the Saudis from the equation owing to the Kingdom’s international reputation around human rights. Time will tell if that’s an excessively optimistic projection.
Indeed, LIV’s fight looks extremely challenging. Despite chief executive Scott O’Neil’s tub-thumping rhetoric in the wake of reports of LIV’s implosion this month, in which he said the league would be pushing on ‘uninterrupted and at full throttle’, an event scheduled for New Orleans in June has been postponed.
According to sources, that decision was taken as a measure to avoid peak summer heat and a clash with the World Cup, but many golf sources interpreted the move as yet further evidence of scaling back mid-season.
There was no mention of Yasir Al-Rumayyan (right), Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, in Thursday’s statement – with him set to step away from LIV after this year
Bryson DeChambeau is believed to be pushing for as much as £400m to renew his LIV deal
Tyrrell Hatton would be free to return to the DP World Tour if he chose to break his LIV contract
There is an irony that LIV’s existential crisis has arrived at a point when a belated upturn to their fortunes was being seen in several areas – aside from a series of new sponsorship deals and enhanced broadcasting arrangement, sources told Daily Mail Sport earlier this month that revenues were up $100million through five events in 2026 and that 10 of their 13 teams will be in profit for the season, along with four of the tournaments.
Those details will be vital to luring fresh investment to the table. But the greater concern will be the understanding that the circuit is losing around £75m a month and DeChambeau is believed to be pushing for as much as £400m to renew his deal.
At a time of war in the Middle East, footing the bill has been ruled unviable by the Saudis. O’Neil himself has been frank in admitting it might yet be five or 10 years before his league is profitable, so it is a tight corner in which LIV’s new hierarchy will find themselves.
As for the players, there have already been private overtures to the traditional tours about making amends for old wounds.
The likes of Tyrrell Hatton would be free to return to the DP World Tour if he chose to break his LIV contract, much like Patrick Reed has already done, while many would be hoping for the kind of sweetheart deal that allowed Brooks Koepka to rejoin the PGA Tour earlier this year.
