Garcia Addresses LIV Golf Shutdown Rumors

Amidst swirling speculation about the future of LIV Golf, Sergio Garcia stated that he cannot comment further on the matter beyond what players were initially assured. The speculation began on social media and was later reported by The Daily Telegraph, which claimed that LIV Golf executives were summoned to an emergency meeting in New York. The Financial Times then reported that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the primary backer of LIV Golf, was considering withdrawing its support, although no final decision had been made. Garcia, a team captain in LIV Golf, maintained that players are awaiting reassurances but have not been informed of any imminent announcements. In a press conference, Garcia said, 'Honestly, we aren't going to listen to anything except for what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf chairman] told us at the start of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project for many years.' Garcia also noted that there are always many rumors and he cannot comment further on the situation. The Golf Channel's Rich Lerner reported that pairings for the first round of LIV Golf Mexico had been released, but players were still awaiting their fate. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol suggested that Saudi Arabia is reevaluating its investment in sports, seeking a return on its investments. LIV Golf, launched in 2021, has been a rival to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, but has experienced a division within professional golf, with some big names defecting to the breakaway tour. Notable players like Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and Dustin Johnson have joined LIV Golf, while others like Brook Koepka and Patrick Reed have left. Koepka has returned to the PGA Tour, while Reed is seeking reinstatement for the 2027 season and is currently competing on the DP World Tour. The Saudi-backed league has expanded to 13 teams and increased its prize fund to $30m for 2026, but has lost some notable names in recent months.