The reported departure of Yasir Al-Rumayyan adds to LIV Golf’s hazy future.
RAJ MEHTA, GETTY IMAGES
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund confirmed last Thursday that it will end its financial backing of LIV Golf, leaving the upstart league to find a new financial path forward.
Earlier Thursday, LIV Golf announced that it is focusing “on securing long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model.”
While LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has remained adamant the league will continue beyond this year, the confirmation of earlier reports that the PIF will end its involvement along with new reports that PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who spearheaded the game-altering concept, is stepping down as LIV’s board chairman, raises serious questions about the league’s long-term viability.
The PIF pullback, after reportedly investing approximately $6 billion, leaves LIV – which has already lost stars Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed this year – scrambling to rework its business model as speculation mounts about its future and the potential paths for Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, among other players.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding LIV, the organization announced it has postponed a tournament scheduled to be played in New Orleans in June, citing a number of factors for the decision. LIV has said it intends to play the event in the fall but no date is set. READ MORE
“I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution. I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world.”
Bryson DeChambeau, in an interview with Flushing It Golf in which he dismissed speculation about him wanting to leave LIV Golf before the end of the year as untrue.
LECKIE WONG, COURTESY AUGUSTA NATIONAL
The PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, WM Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational will be played in February next year, Sports Business Journal confirmed last Wednesday.
Pebble Beach will be played Feb. 4-7, with Phoenix to follow on Feb. 11-14 (coinciding with Super Bowl weekend) and Genesis on Feb. 18-21. All three tournaments will follow the American Express, to be played Jan. 21-24 as previously announced. READ MORE
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young will headline the field at the PGA Tour’s signature Truist Championship this week. Matthew Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg and Xander Schauffele will also be in the field at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, after skipping last week’s Cadillac Championship in Doral, Florida. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who won last year’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, will sit out ahead of next week’s PGA at Aronimink.
Meanwhile, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka will be the star attraction at the opposite-field ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic. READ MORE
Tap-Ins
The purse for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open will be $10 million, an increase of $250,000 over last year, the R&A and title sponsor American International Group announced last Tuesday. Another women’s major, the Amundi Evian Championship, will increase its 2026 purse to $9.1 million, a $1.1 million increase over last year, it announced Thursday. READ MORE
The 2028 AIG Women’s Open will be played on the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club, the R&A also announced Tuesday. READ MORE
The R&A will stage the Heroes Classic on Tuesday, July 14, in advance of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, it announced Monday. The three-hole Texas scramble will feature Jordan Spieth, Pádraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood along with AIG Women’s Open champion Miyu Yamashita, disabled golf champion Brendan Lawlor and other sports and entertainment figures. READ MORE
Compiled by Mike Cullity
