Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, betting, post position, updated field: Renegade remains favorite for 152nd Run for the Roses
Renegade is the favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, with other contenders close behind.
LIV Golf faces an uncertain future after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew its funding. CEO Scott OāNeil is seeking alternative financing for 2027 and beyond, but the tour has suffered significant losses.
Mentioned in this story
Photo by Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The future of LIV Golf players is a massive unknown after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew funding for the tour.
CEO Scott OāNeil hopes to seek alternate funding for 2027 and beyond, but the tour has endured heavy losses in recent years, so that will be incredibly difficult. And with LIV Louisiana postponed, the ship appears to be sinking slowly.
For the biggest names, like Bryson DeChambeau, itās a matter of how, not if, theyād get back to the PGA Tour. Their star power would only benefit the tour if they returned. But itās not so simple for everyone else.
Phil Mickelson is 55 and has burned every conceivable bridge with the PGA Tour since LIVās formation, so would he be allowed to play on the Champions Tour? Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee shared his thoughts.
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
With LIV Golfās future uncertain, speculation on its biggest nameās future has been rampant. Mickelson is one of the biggest unknowns, and Chamblee said that the PGA Tour isnāt going to let go of the way Mickelson has conducted himself quickly.
Speaking on the Golf Channel, he said, āPerhaps [Mickelson] will have a road back there. It would be expensive and tedious, I would imagine.
āHe openly recruited PGA Tour players to go to LIV while he was a PGA Tour player.
He went to Tour events to recruit players to go to LIV and was a big part of the lawsuit levied against the PGA Tour.
āBy the way Bryson DeChambeau was sitting on that lawsuit all the way until it was dissolved, so these are not things people are going to easily forget about.ā
If LIV Golf collapses, Phil Mickelson may have to consider returning to the PGA Tour, similar to other prominent players.
The article does not specify the reasons for the withdrawal, but it highlights the financial struggles and heavy losses the tour has faced.
The postponement of LIV Louisiana indicates ongoing challenges for the tour, contributing to concerns about its viability and future events.
While top players like Bryson DeChambeau may easily return to the PGA Tour, the situation is more complicated for other players who may not have the same opportunities.
Renegade is the favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, with other contenders close behind.
Jesse Minter's defensive strategies have significantly improved the Ravens, while Trey Hendrickson's return from injury adds strength to their lineup. The combination of Minter's tactics and Hendrickson's skills could create a formidable defense for the 2026 season.
Mitchell Santner sidelined for a month due to shoulder injury, confirms NZC.
Nikola JokiÄ on Nuggets: 'far away' from a title after playoff exit
Three Key Areas Where the Packers Will Improve by 2026
Luis Enrique praises unique PSG-Bayern first leg match
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
Mickelson has only played once on LIV this season and missed The Masters due to a family health issue, so he likely wouldnāt be in any rush to get back to the PGA Tour anyway. But itās hard to imagine a way back for him in the future unless he does some serious backtracking.
It seems impossible for Mickelson to make a PGA Tour return without some acknowledgment of wrongdoing. He actively attempted to harm the tour while playing on LIV, so he canāt just waltz back as if nothing happened.
Itās also incredibly hard to imagine Mickelson making a public apology and going back on his comments about the PGA Tour. It would be extremely out of character for him at this stage.
And they donāt need each other anymore. Mickelson is far beyond his prime and can no longer contribute much on the golf course, and his off-course demeanor is more likely to turn people away than attract them.
Meanwhile Mickelson has his own YouTube channel and would likely be content playing the major championships while operating in the content creation sphere.
There would not be much demand from either party to negotiate a deal, so itās far more likely that Mickelson retires than returns to the tour.