A Sunday report says Saudi Arabia’s PIF funding could end before LIV Golf’s next tournament in late July, casting doubt over events already left on the calendar. The piece also claims some believe Jon Rahm is “hoping” for a stoppage or bankruptcy to escape his
Golf’s civil war may be paused for the summer, but LIV Golf’s next chapter is starting to look like a fight for survival.
Sunday’s report landed with the kind of timing that forces players and partners to read every sentence twice: there is growing concern that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund could cut funding before the tour’s next tournament in late July. LIV’s breakaway circuit was created in 2021 and has spent years operating with Saudi backing. but its backers announced in April that they would turn off the taps when the 2026 season ends.
The problem now is the “when,” not the “if.” Front Office Sports reported that people close to the situation believe the funding could stop flowing before then, throwing the status of the tournaments set to be staged this year into doubt.
That same report also claimed multiple sources believe Jon Rahm is waiting—maybe even hoping—for LIV to miss a paycheck or file for bankruptcy so he can exit his contract with the tour.
Rahm has denied involvement in any business pitch. Last week, he told 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’s a long stretch before the next LIV event. Organizers have canceled the New Orleans tournament that was set for June, leaving more than six weeks until the next LIV stop.
Even the calendar that remains is described as unstable. Front Office Sports quoted a high-ranking executive at one of LIV’s major league-level partners saying: “LIV Golf doesn’t know if or when the PIF will shut off the spigot. I truly don’t think anyone knows.”
LIV still has four tournaments left on its calendar. The next is set for England from July 23-26. In August, the tour plans to stage LIV Golf Bedminster at Donald Trump’s course. It also has a season finale in Indianapolis from August 20-23 and a $40million team event in Michigan from August 27-30.
But the report also includes a darker counterpoint. A prominent person in the golf industry with professional ties to both LIV and the PGA Tour cast doubt over those events, saying: “I don’t think they’ll ever get to Michigan.”
That uncertainty sits on top of the immediate on-course drama. On Sunday, Tyrrell Hatton won LIV Golf Andalucia by one shot over Rahm, taking home $4million in prize money.
Behind the leaderboard, the longer-term questions are piling up. With LIV’s future in doubt, there are also major concerns over Bryson DeChambeau’s role: his contract expires after this season.
Still, the tour’s leadership is trying to project calm. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil struck an optimistic tone to Front Office Sports. saying: “We continue to see strong momentum both on and off the course.” He added: “We’ve begun sharing our business plan with prospective partners who recognize the opportunity in team golf on a global scale.”.
Players, meanwhile, are stuck waiting for decisive news while the ordinary golf calendar carries on. The US Open begins at Shinnecock Hills, just outside of Manhattan, from June 18-21.
The sequence is brutal in its simplicity: an April announcement says funding ends with the 2026 season. but Sunday’s report suggests the spigot could close earlier than anyone expected. In that gap between late July and “on the fence” events. contracts. paychecks. and futures all hang on the same unanswered question.
LIV Golf PIF Jon Rahm Scott O'Neil Tyrrell Hatton Bryson DeChambeau US Open Shinnecock Hills LIV Golf Andalucia England July 23-26 LIV Golf Bedminster Indianapolis August 20-23 Michigan $40million team event