Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund exiting LIV Golf
Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund is pulling billions out of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, casting a shadow over the upstart golf league’s future. Greg Palkot reports that the PIF had invested over $5 billion to compete with the PGA Tour and attract top players like Phil Mickelson. With this funding cut, LIV Golf is now seeking new global investors to ensure its long-term viability.
NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
With LIV Golf formally announcing Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will no longer fund the startup league, President Donald Trump is anxious to see what may come of it.
With LIV’s monetary future in doubt beyond 2026, reports say golfers who defected from the PGA Tour for LIV are looking to reverse course.
Trump believes that it would be positive for the sport.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
President Donald Trump reacts as he walks onto the course at the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new 18-hole course at the Trump International Golf Links on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland. President Trump is visiting Scotland on a part-holiday, part-work trip as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 to 29. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“I believe all golfers should play against each other. They saw something like a monopoly, but it’s swaying away. It should be the opposite of a monopoly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
“I want to see Rory [McIlroy] plays Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see the great Jon Rahm play Scottie, who is so amazing. Scottie Scheffler is amazing. They have great players on LIV, but it’s almost like people want to see it. That’s why the Masters was so good, because you saw everybody.”
“The tour wants the best players. You can’t have the best player that they’re boycotting now. They might do something, you know, a little bit, but they’re all going to be back on tour and it’s going to be great. I don’t know what’s going to happen with LIV. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with LIV, but they’re playing my course in two weeks now. [the PGA Tour] at Doral, which I own.”
LIV CEO Scott O’Neil reportedly sent an email to his staff amid initial reports of funding that the season would go “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle”, but plans apparently changed. LIV announced that their June tour in New Orleans has been postponed with a date to be determined.
The league announced Thursday “new board appointments as the league focuses on securing long-term financial partners to support the transition from a basic launch phase to a diversified multi-partner investment model.”
Team captain Bryson DeChambeau shakes hands with former President Donald Trump on the fourth hole during the pre-LIV Golf Invitational pro-am at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, NJ on July 28, 2022. (Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf)
STEPHEN A SMITH KNOWS PGA TOUR FOR LIFE GOLF SAGA, SAYS MORONICALLY MORONICALLY, LOWERING SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED
“The PIF has made the decision to only fund LIV Golf for the remainder of the 2026 season,” their statement began. “The significant investment required by LIV Golf in the longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been taken in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.
“The LIV Golf Board has established a committee of independent directors to evaluate strategic alternatives for its future beyond the PIF’s funding horizon. LIV Golf has significantly grown the game globally through its transformative and positive impact. It has forever changed the game of golf for the better.”
The PIF reportedly injected north of $1 billion into LIV Golf in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. With the $266 million injection to begin the new year, an increase in prize money for the season and net spending of $100 million per month, the Saudi PIF’s cumulative investment at the end of the year was set to reach $26 billion.
LIV started in 2022 and has produced two big winners in Brooks Koepka, who has since joined the PGA Tour at the 2023 PGA Championship and DeChambeau at the 2024 US Open.
LIV Golf switched from its 54-hole format, a draw for golfers who defected from the PGA Tour, to a 72-hole format beginning this season. Patrick Reed is too set to join the PGA Tour again.
Former President Donald Trump leaves the first tee after the start of the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf Tournament in Bedminster, New Jersey on July 31, 2022. (Seth Wenig/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
There are seven remaining events on 2026 LIV Golf schedulewith the next set taking place at Trump National in Virginia beginning May 7. They will be at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey course in July.
