Saudi Arabia Pulls Plug on LIV Golf After 2026 Season

Clear Facts

• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will withdraw all funding from LIV Golf after the 2026 season, according to reports
• Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of both PIF and LIV Golf’s board, has resigned from his position with the golf league
• The decision marks a significant shift in the Saudi-backed golf venture that has competed with the PGA Tour since its 2022 launch

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is preparing to end its financial backing of LIV Golf following the 2026 season, according to a new report. The move represents a dramatic reversal for the controversial golf league that challenged the PGA Tour’s dominance over professional golf.

The announcement comes alongside news that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who serves as chairman of both the PIF and LIV Golf’s board of directors, has stepped down from his role with the golf organization. Al-Rumayyan will maintain his position leading Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

LIV Golf launched in 2022 with massive financial backing from the Saudi government, luring several high-profile PGA Tour players with enormous signing bonuses and guaranteed prize money. The league’s emergence sparked fierce debate in professional golf and raised questions about the influence of foreign governments in American sports.

The PIF reportedly invested billions of dollars into LIV Golf since its inception, offering contracts worth hundreds of millions to attract top talent. Players who joined the upstart league faced criticism and were initially banned from PGA Tour events, creating a significant rift in professional golf.

Industry observers have speculated about the long-term viability of LIV Golf’s business model, which relied heavily on continued Saudi funding rather than traditional revenue streams like television contracts and sponsorships. The league has struggled to secure major broadcast deals and has faced ongoing scrutiny over its ties to the Saudi government.

The announcement raises questions about the future of players who left the established tour for guaranteed LIV contracts. Many signed multi-year deals worth substantial sums, betting on the league’s permanence in professional golf.

This development comes as negotiations between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour have continued regarding a potential framework agreement. The PGA Tour shocked the golf world in June 2023 by announcing it had entered into discussions with the PIF about a possible partnership, despite previously condemning the Saudi-backed league.

The withdrawal of Saudi funding after 2026 could accelerate discussions about reunification of professional golf or force LIV to seek alternative financing sources. Without the PIF’s deep pockets, the league would need to demonstrate it can operate as a sustainable business rather than a government-subsidized venture.

Details about how the transition will affect current player contracts and the league’s operations through the 2026 season remain unclear. LIV Golf has not yet issued an official statement regarding the reported funding withdrawal.

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