Saudi Arabia will withdraw their financial backing from LIV Golf at the end of the season, just months away from the UK Open at Royal Birkdale this summer.
The news follows the reports that governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Yasir Al-Rumayyan, will be stepping down from his role at LIV’s board.
Executives at LIV Golf have now confirmed to players that the funding will cease at the end of 2026, just four years after its first tournament.
Financial Impacts
PIF invested more than £3.7bn into LIV Golf, attracting elite players such as John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson.
However, this announcement will now leave a scramble for investment and its current players, who have signed contracts worth hundreds of millions.
In recent months, LIV has lost some notable names, including former masters champion, Patrick Reed, and five-time major winner, Brooks Koepka.
Koepka re-joined the PGA Tour, but faced an estimated loss of $50 million.
Have players benefited from joining LIV?
Financially, yes. Players have made hundreds of millions by joining the LIV Tour, gaining immense wealth.
However, golfers that joined LIV have failed to replicate their previous form on the major stage. Only Koepka and DeChambeau have won major championships since joining the LIV tour.
In the Masters tournament last month, half of the LIV golfers that competed failed to make the cut, and no player broke par in the opening round.
Last month, DP World Tour pro Eddie Pepperell said: “I cannot believe for a moment that LIV Golf is adequately preparing these guys to come to Augusta and be where they need to be there. It’s just not.
“You could look at Cam Smith – he’s fallen away dramatically.
“Jon Rahm… Bryson (DeChambeau)… Okay, you can look at Tyrrell [Hatton] – I personally think Tyrrell plays well in the majors because he much prefers being at the majors than he does being at LIV Golf.”
What happens now?
LIV postponed their event in New Orleans this June, which means they will not have any tournaments from 10th May to 6th August.
But now the focus will be on how the LIV players perform at July’s UK Open in Birkdale.
Cameron Smith, who won the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, is set to play, as well as major winners DeChambeau and Rahm.
It will now be interesting to see what happens to LIV players without the lucrative financial benefit.
(All images used under agreed Alamy licence)
