LIV Golf CEO Addresses Funding Rumors Ahead of Mexico City Event

With speculation about the future of LIV Golf swirling, the league's CEO reassured staff Wednesday the ongoing season will continue.

"I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle," Scott O'Neil wrote in an email, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach. "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's next tournament starts Thursday near Mexico City.

Schlabach noted there were multiple media reports prior to the email that suggested Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund—which initially funded the circuit and has spent more than $5 billion on it since 2022—"was on the verge of pulling its funding for LIV Golf."

One of those reports came from Trey Wingo, who cited sources saying LIV's long-term future was the focus of a recent board meeting with discussions about whether operations would end as soon as the conclusion of the event in Mexico:

While O'Neil made it clear the plan is to continue through the season in his email, he did not directly comment on suggestions the PIF could stop investing. He also didn't address speculation about whether LIV will continue competitions after the current season ends.

LIV made initial waves as a breakaway circuit from the traditional PGA Tour and seized headlines and momentum when golfers such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka joined the fold.

It offered astronomical contracts, three-round tournaments and team competition as it positioned itself as a counter to the PGA Tour.

Yet much of that momentum has slowed with Koepka leaving to return to the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed following suit and now plenty of questions about the long-term future. Schlabach highlighted lower television ratings in the United States and frustration from star players that the league "has struggled to land contracts to stage its events at top-rated courses in the U.S."

One of the more notable moments in the circuit's brief history to this point came in 2023 when the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour agreed to a framework for an alliance.

However, the deal was never finalized, and the PGA Tour has since agreed to a partnership with Strategic Sports Group to infuse billions into PGA Tour Enterprises.