Saudi funding for LIV Golf ends after this season, sparking sale talks
Saudi funding for LIV Golf ends after this season, sparking sale talks
Saudi Arabia will withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at season’s end, casting doubt on the tour’s future and triggering sale talks.
Saudi Arabia will withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season, plunging the tour’s future into doubt. The move comes as LIV postpones its June event in New Orleans and maps out a plan to operate with no US tournaments from May 10 until August 6, before heading to Bedminster, New Jersey, and continuing events in South Korea, Spain and Britain. Officials remain hopeful LIV can stay as an international circuit with a team-based model, and the project is described as being repositionable as executives explore new investors and strategic options.
LIV's funding has been powered by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund since 2021, with total investment exceeding $5 billion. In 2024 LIV reported substantial losses outside the US, amounting to about $462 million, contributing to more than $1.1 billion in losses since its launch. The plan now is to reposition the business, with discussions about new funding structures, including a team-based model and external investors.
Despite the funding pull, LIV officials have signaled that the 2026 season could proceed largely as planned, amid ongoing talks and a push to keep the tour international even as executives explore strategic alternatives. A shift toward new ownership or partnerships is being actively discussed as the circuit surveys options to secure a sustainable future.
Players and fans are watching closely as the sport adjusts to evolving financial dynamics, with sponsors and broadcasters weighing the impact of a scaled-back schedule. Analysts say the move could reshape the balance of power in pro golf and spark renewed interest from potential backers, buyers, or collaborative ventures that could redefine competition, scheduling and revenue streams.
Ultimately, the LIV saga highlights how a single, powerful source of funding can redefine a sport’s global footprint, forcing the golf world to rethink how leagues are financed, marketed and managed.
