LIV Golf faces uncertain future with Saudi Arabia ‘to withdraw funding’

Former Masters champion Jon Rahm is one of the star players on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit (Reuters)

LIV Golf is again facing an uncertain future with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) set to announce that it will pull its funding for the breakaway rebel golf league at the end of the season.

LIV Golf is expected to make an announcement on Thursday revealing a “new strategic plan”, with a focus on securing new long-term investment and confirming a change in board members. It comes amid reports that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the head of Saudi Arabia’s PIF and the figurehead of LIV Golf since it was founded in 2022, will be stepping down.

News of Saudi Arabia pulling its funding for LIV Golf first emerged two weeks ago, with the league insisting it would remain at “full throttle” this season. While an event in Mexico went ahead, an inaugural tournament in New Orleans scheduled to take place in June was postponed until later this year.

The Wall Street Journal reported LIV Golf plans to tell players and staff on Thursday that PIF would be withdrawing its funding at the end of the season and the futures of star players, such as major winners Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, would be dependent on securing new investment.