BIG NUMBER
$5 billion. That’s how much Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund put into LIV Golf from its founding in 2022 through April. In that same period, the league lost more than $1 billion.
Read more Nvidia Posts $96 Billion Quarter As AI Boom Powers 106% Growth In A Year
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
Which players will stay with LIV. Some, like DeChambeau and Brendan Steele, have been steadfastly loyal to the league while others have been openly skeptical—or already jumped ship. Brooks Koepka parted ways with LIV Golf ahead of the season and reports have suggested a major rift is growing between the league and Rahm.
Read more Abercrombie Stock Spikes 35% After Reporting $100 Million Tariff Refund
Key background
LIV crashed into the golf world four years ago and instantly faced criticism from institutions and individual critics for accepting funding from Saudi Arabia, which was accused of using its extreme wealth to buy its way into a prestigious American sport and improve its international image. The PGA Tour instantly declared war on LIV and suspended players who participated in its events, launching a bitter fight for the future of professional golf. LIV, with its deep pockets, wooed major players like Rahm, Phil Mickelson and Koepka away from the PGA Tour with massive monetary promises, including reported signing bonuses of $300 million for Rahm, $200 million for Mickelson and $100 million for Koepka. Since then, LIV has built a genuine international audience—the league reports ticket sales are up 129% year-over-year—but the American TV audience hasn’t broken through and the league has burned through cash. A newly imagined LIV 2.0 will be a scaled-down version of the league, with five team majors across five continents, in addition to five U.S.-based team signature events per year. LIV 2.0 would also introduce eight to 10 “National Opens,” or individual-play events aimed at allowing players to rack up Official World Golf Ranking points for entry to major tournaments. LIV 1.0 had fewer variations in event type, typically hosting roughly a dozen dual-format events (which included both individual and team competition) and a standalone LIV Golf Team Championship per year.
Read more Trump Shares Rant About GOP ‘F—Ing Up’ As Republicans Criticize His Latest Tariff Moves
further reading
ForbesLIV Golf Is On The Cusp Of A New Funding Deal—And Bankruptcy Is On The TableBy Mary Whitfill RoeloffsForbesLIV Golf Loses Saudi Arabia Funding—Effectively Ending PGA Rival, Report SaysBy Antonio Pequeño IVForbesHere’s How Much LIV Golf Paid Its Players—As The Saudis Yank FundingBy Mary Whitfill Roeloffs