Several of golf's leading names are facing career uncertainty at the end of 2026 amid expectations that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) will withdraw its backing for the LIV Tour. While Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm may have a pathway back to the PGA Tour, the future for others who made lucrative switches to LIV is far less certain.
LIV's executives, who were bullish about the circuit's future at last week's Masters, subsequently attended a summit with the PIF in New York. There, the financial impact of the Middle East crisis is believed to have been cited for a sudden change in the fund's approach. Insiders believe the PIF will seek to apply force majeure to extricate itself from contracts beyond the end of this year. Without alternative funding, LIV's outlook is bleak, given each event carries a $30m prize fund.
LIV's chief executive, Scott O'Neil, issued a statement to staff saying the season continues as planned, but he made no commitments into 2027. Since being founded in 2021, LIV is understood to have burned through more than $5bn of PIF money. Under O'Neil, LIV has made strides towards commercial viability, attracting sponsors such as Rolex and HSBC, and plans to sell team franchises.
The PGA Tour has already smoothed a path for Brooks Koepka to return, and Patrick Reed will soon follow. While DeChambeau and Rahm hold strong appeal to the PGA Tour, others, such as Phil Mickelson, face a less obvious future. The DP World Tour may be more willing to re-engage with LIV players, but a complicating factor is its agreement with the PGA Tour, which is being renegotiated.
Women's golf in Europe could also be affected if Saudi Arabia diverts attention from the sport. The PIF Saudi Ladies International and the PIF London Championship are key events on the Ladies European Tour, and Aramco backs several co-sanctioned events. The kingdom's pivot could leave women's golf exposed.
