LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil says league will 'probably' have to raise money

TL;DR

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil indicated that the league may need to raise funds as the Saudi Public Investment Fund's financial support could be ending. He revised earlier statements about the league's funding security, acknowledging the need for a sustainable business plan.

Key points

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil suggests the league may need to raise funds.
Reports indicate the Saudi Public Investment Fund might stop financial support.
O'Neil revised earlier claims of funding security through 2032.
Sergio Garcia mentioned funding was secure until 2030.
O'Neil emphasizes the need for a sustainable business plan.

Mentioned in this story

LIV GolfScott O'NeilSergio GarciaSaudi Public Investment Fund

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil has made several media appearances in the past 24 hours after reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund might be done pumping money into the circuit, and he's beginning to walk back some of his previous claims about the financial security of the league moving forward.

O'Neil reportedly told "various people" at the Masters last week that the league was fully funded through 2032, according to Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard. But during an interview with TNT Sports — which has already been scrubbed from the outlet's X account and YouTube channel — Oliver Wilson asked O'Neil about future funding, and his answer was a far cry from what he's previously said.

"Sergio [Garcia] came out yesterday and alluded to the fact that they'd been told that funding was in place until 2030, can you speak to that?" Wilson asked.

“Yeah, of course, it's just not the way the world works,” O’Neil replied. “The reality is that you’re funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going. But that’s not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of mankind.”

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Without mentioning funding specifically, O'Neil sent a memorandum to LIV Golf employees on Wednesday that said its 2026 season "continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle." A report from Reuters on Thursday cited multiple sources that LIV was funded through the end of this season, but beyond that, major questions remained. Up until his interview with Wilson on TNT Sports, O'Neil had not confirmed that to be the case.

O'Neil says LIV Golf will 'probably' have to raise money

In a different interview during Thursday's first round broadcast of LIV Golf Mexico City, O'Neil spoke with LIV Golf commentator Arlo White for nearly seven minutes about the future of the league.

"How we go forward is what I'm really excited about," O'Neil said. "I talked about some structural changes, they are coming. You can ask about the 50 people I met in Augusta, I rolled out the plan. We have one, and it might surprise some people. ... this notion of, 'Do you have to raise money?' Probably. This is business. But if we keep the trajectory going the way we are, and the revenue growth going, this is going to be a really good business for a really long time."

Q&A

What did LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil say about future funding?

Scott O'Neil stated that LIV Golf may need to raise money, contrasting previous claims of being fully funded through 2032.

Why might LIV Golf need to raise money?

LIV Golf may need to raise money due to reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund might stop its financial support.

What did Sergio Garcia say regarding LIV Golf's funding?

Sergio Garcia mentioned that players were informed funding was secure until 2030, which O'Neil later contradicted.

How does O'Neil describe the funding situation at LIV Golf?

O'Neil described the funding situation as typical for private equity businesses, emphasizing the need for a solid business plan beyond initial funding.