LIV Golf Reportedly Planning to File for Bankruptcy After PIF Pulls off Financial Support

LIV Golf will lose the financial backing of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia after the 2026 season.

LIV Golf Reportedly Planning to File for Bankruptcy After PIF Pulls off Financial Support

Scott O'Neil (Image via Golf Monthly)

LIV Golf has found itself in a troubling situation. As they lose the financial support of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, they are now reported to have started planning a layout and potentially filing for bankruptcy.

The breakaway tour caused a major divide in golf in 2021 following its formation. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF, launched the LIV Golf league with former World No.1 Greg Norman serving as the CEO.

The league debuted in 2022 and brought in several big names from the PGA Tour. Top stars like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith left them following huge money deals.

Before the 2026 season, the LIV Golf made some changes. They adapted to the traditional 72-hole format and even started receiving some Official Golf World Rankings (OWGR) points. At that moment, it seemed things were working well for them.

However, after the Masters Tournament, things came crashing down for them. Reports claimed that the PIF of Saudi Arabia was pulling its plug and stopping its financial aid to them after the end of this season.

This was made official a few weeks later as Al-Rumyyan stepped down from his post as the chairman of the league. Without the financial support of the Saudis, speculations arose that the league would fold after the 2026 season.

According to reports from Bloomberg (subscription required), the league has now started laying the groundwork for a potential U.S. bankruptcy filing. If they fail to secure the funds at the end of the season, the collapse of the league is a possible outcome.

LIV Golf has 14 events planned for the 2026 season. As of now, they have completed 7 events with 7 remaining.

One of them will be the rescheduled Louisiana event, which was postponed. Earlier, the league was supposed to take part in the LIV Golf Louisiana in June. However, due to the weather conditions and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the event was postponed to a later date.

If the league does fold after the end of the campaign in August, the future of several stars will come under the spotlight. Before this season, the league lost 2 of its stars in Koepka and Patrick Reed.

The two of them left the circuit and secured pathways back to the PGA Tour. For the others to return, the pathways could be stricter, considering some of them filed lawsuits against them.

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LIV Golf is trying to raise $250 million from investors

LIV Golf are in crisis. With no support from the PIF after the 2026 season, the league is looking for ways to secure funds for the future. As per reports, the breakaway circuit is trying to raise around $250 million from investors.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil (Image via ESPN)

According to reports from Axios, the league needs around $250 million from the new investors. They are hoping that this amount is profitable within 20 months.

They could also raise a significantly lower amount than this. If the league is able to raise around $150 million, then it will bank on the rising values of the teams and the new media rights deal.

The PIF had reportedly invested over $5 billion in LIV. This figure is expected to cross the $6 billion mark by the end of this year.

At the moment, there remains a lot of speculation regarding them. Only time will tell what measures the league takes to secure its future beyond this ongoing season.

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