Saudi public investment fund withdraws from LIV Golf
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is withdrawing billions from LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, casting a shadow over the future of the new golf league. Greg Palkot reports that the PIF has invested more than $5 billion to compete with the PGA Tour, attracting top players like Phil Mickelson. With this funding reduction, LIV Golf is now seeking new global investors to ensure its long-term viability.
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As LIV Golf officially announced Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will no longer fund the startup league, President Donald Trump is excited about what could result.
With LIV’s monetary future in question beyond 2026, reports indicate that golfers who left the PGA Tour for LIV are keen to reverse the trend.
Trump thinks it would be positive for the sport.
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President Donald Trump reacts as he walks on the course during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland. President Trump is visiting Scotland as part of a combination holiday and work trip, having stayed at its Trump Turnberry Golf Course, followed by Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 and 29. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“I think all golfers should play against each other. They thought of something as a monopoly, but it’s moving away. It should be the opposite of a monopoly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
“I want to see Rory [McIlroy] play Bryson DeChambeau. I want to see the great Jon Rahm play Scottie, who is so great. Scottie Scheffler is awesome. They have great players on LIV, but it’s almost like people want to see that. That’s why the Masters was so good, because you saw everyone together.”
“The Tour wants to have the best players. You can’t have the best player they’re boycotting now. They can do something, you know, a little bit, but they’ll all be back on tour and it’ll be great. I don’t know what’s going on with LIV. I’m not sure what’s going on with LIV, but they’ll be playing my course in two weeks on the Potomac, a beautiful course. But right now [the PGA Tour] in Doral, which I own.
LIV CEO Scott O’Neil reportedly sent an email to his team While initial funding reports said the season would go on “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full capacity”, plans have apparently changed. LIV announced that its June tournament in New Orleans has been postponed with a date to be determined.
The league announced Thursday “new appointments to the board of directors as the league focuses on finding long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational 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 pro-am before the LIV Golf Invitational at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, NJ on July 28, 2022. (Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf)
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“The PIF has made the decision to finance LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,” their press release begins. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over the long term is no longer consistent with the current phase of the PIF’s investment strategy. This decision was made in light of the PIF’s investment priorities and current macroeconomic dynamics.
“The LIV Golf Board of Directors has created a committee of independent directors to evaluate strategic alternatives for its future beyond the PIF funding horizon. LIV Golf has significantly grown the game globally through its transformative and positive impact. He forever changed golf for the better.
The PIF has reportedly injected more than $1 billion into LIV Golf in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. With the injection of $266 million to start the new year, a price increase for the season and a net spend of $100 million per month, the Saudi PIF’s cumulative investment is expected to reach $6 billion by the end of 2026.
LIV debuted in 2022 and produced two major winners in Brooks Koepka, who since joined the PGA Tour, at the 2023 PGA Championship, and DeChambeau at the 2024 US Open.
LIV Golf has moved from its 54-hole format, a draw for golfers leaving the PGA Tour, to a 72-hole format starting this season. Patrick Reed is also ready to join the PGA Tour.
Former President Donald Trump walks off the first tee after the start of the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV golf tournament in Bedminster, New Jersey, July 31, 2022. (Seth Wenig/AP)
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There are seven events left on the LIV Golf Calendar 2026with the next series taking place at Trump National in Virginia starting May 7. They will take place at Trump’s course in Bedminster, New Jersey, in July.
