LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil Says 2026 Season Continues Amid Collapse Rumors
LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil told staff the 2026 season will continue "uninterrupted and at full throttle" after reports spread that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund might pull funding from the golf tour.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil sent a message to staff this week denying rumors that the Saudi-backed golf tour is about to shut down. He said the 2026 season will continue "exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle."
The rumors began after reports suggested Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf, might be considering pulling its funding. The fund has spent billions launching the tour and signing star players away from the PGA Tour.
LIV Golf launched in 2022 as a rival to the traditional PGA Tour, offering massive signing bonuses to top players. The move split professional golf, with some players joining LIV while others stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.
Paul McGinley, a golf analyst, said the PGA Tour could now "play hardball" in any future negotiations if LIV's financial backing becomes uncertain. The two tours have been in talks about potentially working together.
O'Neil's message appears designed to calm concerns among players and staff about the tour's future stability.
LIV Golf has paid huge signing bonuses to top players like Phil Mickelson and created a rival to the PGA Tour. If it collapses, it could reshape professional golf and affect where fans watch their favorite players compete.
Watch for official statements from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund about continued LIV Golf funding.
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