As LIV Golf progresses through a turbulent 2026 seasonquestions about its uncertain future after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced that it would withdraw its financial support the wicked continue to grow larger. Bryson DeChambeau has said he is playing a role to help LIV CEO Scott O’Neil chart a path for the league as Jon Rahm has chosen concentrates on his golf and let O’Neil and others determine the future of LIV.
O’Neil is it is said to be asking between $250 million and $350 million to stabilize LIV moving forward, with the league potentially looking to downsize to 10 events with significantly smaller purses. Reports emerged before last week’s event in Korea that LIV Golf was laying the groundwork to file for bankruptcy in the United States if it could not secure new investors. LIV has already postponed a New Orleans tour that was scheduled for June 25-28.
Most would describe the future of LIV Golf as bleak at best, but Sergio Garcia feels differently about what lies ahead. Garcia, who joined LIV Golf when it burst onto the scene in 2022 and is one of the captains attending investor meetings, was asked Tuesday before LIV Golf Andalucia what the future holds for LIV. The 2017 Masters champion sees uncertainty, but not where you might think.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of uncertainty; I think there’s definitely some uncertainty,” Garcia said in Valderrama. “But we’re really excited about the work that our CEO, Scott (O’Neil) and his team are doing. We enjoy being involved, giving our input and seeing how we can help make sure the league moves forward. We’re very confident that it will happen. It’s just going to look different.
“In my opinion, more than worrying about whether LIV will continue or the league will continue, it’s more about what it’s going to look like going forward.”
Last week in Korea, DeChambeau, whose contract with LIV expires at the end of the year, also expressed optimism that the breakaway league will continue beyond 2026 with the team’s focus on golf integral to recent areas of investment and the plan for LIV Golf post-PIF.
“One door closes, another one opens. I think that’s the way a lot of us are looking at it,” DeChambeau said last week. “I think we’re all optimistic that there’s a business plan that makes sense for team golf. I’ll honestly say actually — how do I say it? I’m very optimistic about the business plan for team golf compared to other models, in my opinion.”
DeChambeau and Garcia are confident that LIV Golf will be able to survive this turbulent stretch and evolve into something sustainable in the long run. But last week in Korea, DeChambeau kept it candid as he talked about what the future might hold, with him, O’Neil and others bringing in big-money investors into a league focused on team golf and equity in team franchises.
“We’ll see if investors like it or not,” he said. “I’m giving everything I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t happen, it won’t happen.”
Garcia didn’t reveal details on O’Neil’s plan for what’s next, but is confident it will deliver what he and the other players want.
“I think that’s where we are,” Garcia said. “We’re trying to figure out the best possible way to move forward and how we can be excited for all of us, not just ourselves but our fans, our sponsors, everyone involved. We can’t wait to see the final product.”
