Yasir Al-Rumayyan Stepping Down as LIV Golf Chairman Sparks WILD Reactions Among Fans: “Rory and Tiger Win”

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who serves as the governor of the PIF, founded LIV Golf along with Greg Norman in 2021.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan Stepping Down as LIV Golf Chairman Sparks WILD Reactions Among Fans: “Rory and Tiger Win”

Yasir Al-Rumayyan (Image via Imago)

As speculations regarding the future of LIV Golf continue to grow, a major report came out on Wednesday. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman and founder of the breakaway league, has stepped down from his role.

Two weeks ago, reports emerged that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) was pulling the plug and stopping the funding of LIV Golf. Following these reports, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil expressed that the league would make some structural changes.

The PIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, is headed by Al-Rumayyan. The 56-year-old serves as the governor of this. Since the inception of LIV Golf, the PIF has invested over $5 billion in this circuit. The amount is expected to cross the $6 billion mark at the end of this year.

A day after the league officially postponed its Louisiana event, a report from the Wall Street Journal came out. As per the WSJ, the league was getting ready to inform its players and staff about PIF stopping its funding after the 2026 season.

Following this, a bombshell report regarding Al-Rumayyan came out. As per Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, the Saudi Arabian businessman had stepped down from his post as the chairman of LIV Golf.

Al-Rumayyan founded LIV Golf in 2021 along with Greg Norman. The 2-time major champion served as the CEO of the league and helped bring in some of the high-profile names from the PGA Tour on this circuit on large contracts.

In June 2023, he sent some shockwaves across the golf community by sitting beside PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and announcing a merger deal. He was part of the small group that negotiated the “framework agreement” which would see the game of golf reunite.

Last year, there were some talks at the White House as President Donald Trump stepped in. However, nothing major happened after that.

Social media reacts as Yasir Al-Rumayyan reportedly steps down as LIV Golf chairman

According to reports, Yasir Al-Rumayyan is reportedly done with LIV Golf. The PIF governor, who is also the chairman of Premier League club Newcastle United, has stepped down from his post as the chairman of the breakaway golf circuit.

LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan
Yasir Al-Rumayyan (Image via Imago)

Golf fans on social media went into a frenzy after this. Many threw in wild reactions while reacting to it. One user dropped the names of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and wrote, “Rory and Tiger win” on X.

Check out some other reactions below:

McIlroy and Woods were two of the heavy critics of LIV Golf. In 2022, Woods expressed that Greg Norman “has to go” to end the hostility between the two tours.

After the merger deal was announced, McIlroy started softening his stance. In 2024, the 6-time major champion apologized for some of his words and claimed he was a bit judgmental towards some LIV golfers.

LIV Golf stars reportedly reach out to the PGA Tour about return

With the future of their league uncertain, a few LIV Golf stars have started to work on a contingency plan. As per reports from Golf Digest, some of them have reached out to the PGA Tour and talked about a return to the circuit.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil (Image via X/@MirrorUSSports)

Earlier this year, Brooks Koepka returned to the tour in a shocking development. The former World No.1 left the PIF-backed league in December 2025 and came back to the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program.

As per the Returning Member Program, a golfer who had been away from the tour for 2 years and had won The Players Championship or any one of the 4 majors from 2022 was eligible to return.

Apart from Koepka, the likes of Cameron Smith (The Players Championship in 2022), Jon Rahm (Masters Tournament in 2023), and Bryson DeChambeau (U.S. Open in 2024) could have returned. However, the three of them turned down this chance.

A few days after Koepka’s return, Patrick Reed also left LIV Golf. However, unlike Koepka, the 2018 Masters Champion will return as a past champion in 2027. He, though, will be eligible to play in later PGA Tour events this year.

Some members of the breakaway tour have now started to reach out to the PGA Tour. However, unlike Kopeka and Reed, the conditions for return could be more severe.

Only time will tell what happens next and what is in store for the future of LIV Golf. As of now, the league is expected to go as planned and face no interruptions this year.

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