Jon Rahm and his Legion XIII team might not have a chance to defend their LIV Golf League titles in August.
Front Office Sports reported that LIV, which has four more tournaments in the 2026 season, could call the season off over a lack of funding.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the money behind LIV and its big player contracts and tournament paydays, announced in April that it would bankroll LIV only through the 2026 season. It has put an estimated $6 billion toward LIV so far.
But after Tyrrell Hatton won LIV Golf Andalucia on Sunday, LIV is going on a 47-day break to accommodate the U.S. Open and The Open Championship, and the league could look different — or not return — after that break, per Front Office Sports.
“Every remaining tournament is on the fence,” an executive with one of LIV’s partners told the outlet.
“I truly don’t think anyone knows,” the executive continued. “LIV Golf doesn’t know if or when the PIF will shut off the spigot.”
The scheduled events:
–LIV Golf United Kingdom, July 23-26 at JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester, England
–LIV Golf New York, Aug. 6-9 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.
–LIV Golf Indianapolis, Aug. 20-23 at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind. (individual championship)
–LIV Golf Michigan, Aug. 27-30 at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Plymouth, Mich. (team championship)
LIV New Orleans, scheduled for July, already has been canceled.
Front Office Sports speculated that the LIV Golf New York event in early August likely is safe to be played at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster because of President Donald Trump’s favorable relationship with Saudi Arabia.
There isn’t the same level of confidence for the other two U.S. tournaments.
“I don’t think they’ll ever get to Michigan,” Front Office Sports reported, citing “a prominent person in the golf industry with professional ties to both LIV and PGA Tour players” as saying.
LIV is trying to hold on through 2026 and reboot next year without Saudi involvement.
“We continue to see strong momentum both on and off the course,” LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “We’ve begun sharing our business plan with prospective partners who recognize the opportunity in team golf on a global scale.”
LIV is making pitches to potential investors and partnering with an investment banking adviser. It also is pinching pennies, where possible, and designing a plan to lower event purses.
–Field Level Media
