LIV Golf's Funding Battle
LIV Golf Faces Funding Crisis as PIF Exits, Jon Rahm Considers Personal Stake
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Key Points
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PIF funding status shows a sharp shift: the Saudi fund has poured more than $5 billion into LIV since 2022, but current-season deliveries are far below pledged amounts (about $200 million delivered of a roughly $600 million pledge), and PIF has indicated it will stop financing LIV after the 2026 season.
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LIV is actively seeking new external investment, with reports that roughly $300 million would be needed to sustain a 10-event schedule in 2027; the league has also created a new board to oversee changes and attract fresh backing amid bankruptcy-wary conditions in the U.S.
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Sergio Garcia is planning to rejoin the DP World Tour in 2027, signaling that some LIV stars are preparing to pivot back toward established tours even as LIV contends with financial uncertainty.
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Jon Rahm has not been asked to invest his own money in LIV yet, but he has left open the possibility for future involvement, highlighting a broader contingency mindset among players as the league searches for new backing.
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Rahm joined LIV on a nine-figure contract after leaving the PGA Tour in December 2023, underscoring the scale of the league’s financial commitments to its top stars and the stakes of any funding shortfall.
LIV Golf is fighting for survival after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund confirmed it will stop financing the league after the 2026 season, according to Daily Club Golf. The PIF has poured more than $5 billion into LIV since 2022, but delivered only about $200 million of a roughly $600 million pledge for the current season. Now LIV needs around $300 million in fresh investment just to run a 10-event schedule in 2027.
Into that vacuum steps an unlikely potential lifeline: the players themselves. Two-time major winner Jon Rahm has refused to rule out putting his own money into the league, Head Topics reported. Rahm hasn't been asked yet — but he hasn't said no either.
PIF Pulls Back and LIV Scrambles for Cash
The PIF's exit is a massive blow. The Saudi fund was LIV's sole financial backer since the league launched in 2022. It promised roughly $600 million for the current season but has delivered only about $200 million so far, according to Daily Club Golf. That gap has left LIV scrambling to pay its bills and finish the year.
To stay alive into 2027, LIV needs around $300 million in new outside investment. The league has already created a new board to oversee restructuring and attract fresh backers. LIV CEO Scott O'Neil has reportedly been in talks to avert a potential U.S. bankruptcy filing, Head Topics reported. The stakes could not be higher.
Rahm Leaves the Door Open on Personal Investment
Rahm addressed the question directly at the Genesis Scottish Open, a co-sanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour event. He said he has not been asked to invest his own money in LIV. But he stopped short of ruling it out, Golf Digest ME reported. That careful non-denial caught attention fast.
Rahm joined LIV in December 2023 on a nine-figure contract — meaning at least $100 million guaranteed. That deal made him one of the league's biggest stars and biggest financial commitments. Now, with PIF stepping away, analysts see Rahm's open-door stance as a sign that players may need to step up if outside investors don't appear, according to Yahoo Sports.
Garcia Plans Exit as Stars Eye the Exits
Rahm is not the only LIV star watching the situation closely. Sergio Garcia has already begun planning his return to the DP World Tour in 2027, according to Daily Club Golf. Garcia's pivot signals that some players are hedging their bets. They are not waiting to see if LIV survives before making alternate plans.
Bryson DeChambeau is also tied to LIV's finances through his own large contract. The league's top stars represent its biggest cost — and potentially its biggest source of emergency funding. If outside investors don't step in, player money may be the last option standing.
What Comes Next for LIV's Uncertain Future
LIV is restructuring quickly. The new board is meant to show outside investors the league is serious about change. A slimmed-down 10-event schedule for 2027 is the target — down from its current size — to cut costs and make the numbers work, Daily Club Golf reported.
But the window is short. LIV must secure fresh capital soon to finish the 2026 season and plan for 2027. If that money doesn't arrive, bankruptcy in the U.S. remains a real possibility. Rahm, for his part, keeps playing — and keeps his options open, according to Golf Digest ME.
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