LIV Golf Ends 2026 Season in Crisis: Saudi Funding Cut, Players Unpaid

LIV Golf wrapped its 2026 season Sunday in Indianapolis amid financial collapse. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which spent over $5 billion since the league’s 2022 launch, pulled funding in April. The league now faces unpaid vendors, late player payments, and canceled tournaments. CEO Scott O’Neil announced a deal with new investors, but the deadline remains uncertain as top players like Jon Rahm explore exits.

How Saudi money ran out after four years

LIV Golf debuted in 2022 with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bankrolling the breakaway tour to lure PGA Tour stars. The fund spent more than $5 billion over four years. In April 2026, the PIF announced it would cut off funding after this season, ending the financial lifeline. The league’s final event prize purse in Indianapolis was cut to $10.1 million, less than half the previous event’s payout.

Canceled tournaments and unpaid bills pile up

LIV canceled its New Orleans event in June and scrapped the season-ending team championship in Michigan scheduled for August 27-30, rolling those events into the Indianapolis finale. Prize money for the team championship dropped $10 million to $30 million. Reports indicate some players have not been paid for recent tournaments, and vendors pursuing legal action claim they have not received payment for months.

Scott O’Neil’s scramble for new investors

CEO Scott O’Neil announced an agreement with a lead investor and interest from more than a dozen minority investors for what he calls “LIV 2.0,” a second chapter for the league. O’Neil pointed to September 1 as a key deadline but sidestepped questions about when a deal must close. He told staff the process would be complex and difficult, with work happening at breakneck speed. However, insiders acknowledged uncertainty, with one describing it as the “last hurrah.”

Top players heading for the exits

Jon Rahm, LIV’s highest-paid player, is expected to leave the league. Brooks Koepka already returned to the PGA Tour in January 2026. Bryson DeChambeau has urged people to give LIV “one last shot,” suggesting he may stay. PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy said a return for LIV golfers would be “a tough, tough road back,” citing loyalty concerns among PGA players who resisted the Saudi offers.

Final Thoughts

LIV Golf faces extinction without new funding by September 1. With Saudi money gone, unpaid bills mounting, and star players departing, the league’s survival depends entirely on O’Neil closing an investor deal. The odds appear long.

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