LIV Golf could be lurching into a new crisis with a bombshell report on Sunday suggesting Saudi Arabia’s PIF funding could end before the circuit’s next tournament in late July.
The breakaway tour that plunged golf into a civil war after its formation in 2021 is now scrambling for new investment after its Saudi backers announced in April it would be turning off the taps when the 2026 season ends.
But now, according to Front Office Sports, there is increasing concern that the money could stop flowing before then, plunging the status of the tournaments set to be staged this year into doubt. The report adds that people believe Jon Rahm is hoping LIV goes bankrupt so that he can leave his contract with the tour.
‘Multiple sources told FOS they believe Rahm is waiting – maybe even hoping for – LIV to miss a paycheck or file for bankruptcy so that he can exit his contract,’ the report claimed.
Remarkably, Rahm said last week he will not help the league try to land new investment, telling reporters: ‘I know nothing about business. I’m never going to claim to know anything about business, and if I was in a business pitch, I would not know the first thing to say. My job is to play golf, and I’ll say it is hard enough as it is.’
For now, there is a wait of over six weeks until the next LIV event after organizers canceled its New Orleans tournament that was set for June. And it seems that those close to the tour think other events could be called off.
Doubts are growing deeper over the long-term future of LIV Golf as it fights for new funding
A new report claims Jon Rahm is even ‘hoping’ the league goes bankrupt so his contract ends
‘Every remaining tournament is on the fence,’ the publication quoted ‘a high-ranking executive at one of LIV’s major league-level partners’ as saying.
‘LIV Golf doesn’t know if or when the PIF will shut off the spigot. I truly don’t think anyone knows.’
LIV has four tournaments left on its calendar, with the next set to be held in England from July 23-26.
In August, it is set to stage LIV Golf Bedminster at Donald Trump’s course. They also stage a season finale in Indianapolis August 20-23 and a $40million team event in Michigan from August 27-30.
But FOS quoted a different ‘prominent person in the golf industry with professional ties to both LIV and PGA Tour’ casting doubt over those events, saying: ‘I don’t think they’ll ever get to Michigan.’
On Sunday, Tyrrell Hatton won LIV Golf Andalucia by one shot over Rahm. He took home $4million in prize money.
Should LIV fight on, there are major questions over Bryson DeChambeau’s future too – his contract expieres after this season.
And despite the long-term concerns, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil struck an optimistic tone to FOS, saying: ‘We continue to see strong momentum both on and off the course.
‘We’ve begun sharing our business plan with prospective partners who recognize the opportunity in team golf on a global scale.’
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