LIV Golf's 2026 season to continue 'as planned,' but future uncertain

LIV Golf's 2026 season to continue 'as planned,' but future uncertain

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has responded to reports regarding Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund potentially ceasing involvement with the league.

O’Neil stated, in an email to the league’s staff on Wednesday, April 15 that was obtained by ESPN, that the 2026 LIV Golf season will continue “as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle."

Bret Baier of Fox News also reported that events will be funded for the rest of the 2026 season, but added that funding “will definitely come to an end at the end of this LIV season, citing a change of priorities.”

O’Neil's email did not mention anything about the state of LIV Golf beyond the current season.

The Public Investment Fund has reportedly spent more than $5 billion since the league started in 2022.

"I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle," O'Neil wrote in the email to staff. "While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before."

LIV Golf remains in the headlines as executives meet amid ongoing conversations about the future of the sport.

See the LIV golfers who continue to draw attention through both current competition and their place in the broader discussion.

Above, Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

Paul Casey of Crushers GC chips onto the first green during the finals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John's Resort.

Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after winning in a playoff against Byeong-Hun An of South Korea during the final round of The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 3, 2018, in Dublin, Ohio.

Sergio Garcia plays his shot on the seventeenth hole from the eighth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Tyrrell Hatton tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Charles Howell III, Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey of the Crushers GC celebrate the Dallas LIV team championship during the final round of the LIV Golf Dallas golf tournament at Maridoe Golf Club.

Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the 17th green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Martin Kaymer of team Cleeks Golf Club hits a tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Anthony Kim hits from the second tee during the final round of the LIV Golf Black Diamond Ranch golf tournament at Black Diamond Ranch.

Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC reacts to a putt at the 12th green on day one of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 06, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC celebrates after winning day three of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 08, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

Louis Oosthuizen of Stinger GC tees off at the ninth hole on day two of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 07, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

British golfer Ian Poulter of Majesticks GC plays his shot from the second tee during the quarterfinals of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Miami at Trump National Doral Miami golf club in Miami, Florida, on October 28, 2022.

Jon Rahm of Legion XIII poses with the LIV golf season individual trophy on day three of LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills on August 17, 2025, in Westfield, Indiana.

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel celebrates with the trophy after winning the LIV Golf Invitational London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022. The $25 million event marked the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, the richest tournament purse in golf history at the time.

Australia's Cameron Smith of Ripper GC plays a shot at the 5th tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Korea at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon on May 2, 2025.

USA's Bubba Watson watches his shot during the second day of the LIV Golf Adelaide at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide on February 15, 2025.

Lee Westwood of Majesticks GC reacts to a putt on the 18th hole during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Orlando at The Orange County National on April 02, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

LIV Golf remains in the headlines as executives meet amid ongoing conversations about the future of the sport.

See the LIV golfers who continue to draw attention through both current competition and their place in the broader discussion.

Above, Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

1 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

LIV Golf remains in the headlines as executives meet amid ongoing conversations about the future of the sport.

See the LIV golfers who continue to draw attention through both current competition and their place in the broader discussion.

Above, Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

2 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Paul Casey of Crushers GC chips onto the first green during the finals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John's Resort.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after winning in a playoff against Byeong-Hun An of South Korea during the final round of The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 3, 2018, in Dublin, Ohio.

4 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Sergio Garcia plays his shot on the seventeenth hole from the eighth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Tyrrell Hatton tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Charles Howell III, Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey of the Crushers GC celebrate the Dallas LIV team championship during the final round of the LIV Golf Dallas golf tournament at Maridoe Golf Club.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the 17th green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Martin Kaymer of team Cleeks Golf Club hits a tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Anthony Kim hits from the second tee during the final round of the LIV Golf Black Diamond Ranch golf tournament at Black Diamond Ranch.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC reacts to a putt at the 12th green on day one of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 06, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC celebrates after winning day three of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 08, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Louis Oosthuizen of Stinger GC tees off at the ninth hole on day two of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 07, 2025, in Gainesville, Virginia.

13 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

British golfer Ian Poulter of Majesticks GC plays his shot from the second tee during the quarterfinals of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Miami at Trump National Doral Miami golf club in Miami, Florida, on October 28, 2022.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Jon Rahm of Legion XIII poses with the LIV golf season individual trophy on day three of LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills on August 17, 2025, in Westfield, Indiana.

15 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel celebrates with the trophy after winning the LIV Golf Invitational London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022. The $25 million event marked the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, the richest tournament purse in golf history at the time.

16 / 18

LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Australia's Cameron Smith of Ripper GC plays a shot at the 5th tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Korea at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon on May 2, 2025.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

USA's Bubba Watson watches his shot during the second day of the LIV Golf Adelaide at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide on February 15, 2025.

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LIV Golf running out of time? Meet the players who define the league

Lee Westwood of Majesticks GC reacts to a putt on the 18th hole during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Orlando at The Orange County National on April 02, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.

The creation of LIV Golf led to several prominent golfers leaving the PGA Tour. LIV differs from the PGA in that it features 48-player fields in 54-hole, no-cut tournaments. It also features a team element and is not heavily funded by sponsors or media rights.

"The life of a startup movement is often defined by these moments of pressure," O'Neil said. "We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we've answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports."

LIV Golf has already played five tournaments in its current season, with the sixth one scheduled to begin on April 16 near Mexico City. The league will hold its first U.S.-based tournament May 7-10 in Sterling, Virginia.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LIV Golf 2026 season to continue 'as planned,' but future uncertain