Amid swirling speculation about the future of LIV Golf, Sergio Garcia stated that he can't reveal anything beyond what players were initially assured. The speculation began on social media and was further fueled by reports of an 'emergency meeting' in New York.
However, Garcia emphasized that the team captains, including himself, have not received any information about an imminent announcement. LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has been at the center of controversy since its launch in 2021. Despite the rumors, it has been business as usual at the latest event in Mexico City, with players practicing on the course ahead of the first round. Garcia's comments came after Jon Rahm's pre-event press conference was canceled due to technical reasons.
Garcia expressed that the players will only listen to what Yasir Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf chairman, told them at the start of the year - that he is behind them and has a long-term project in place. The Golf Channel's Rich Lerner noted that pairings for the first round were released, but players are still awaiting their fate. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol believes that Saudi Arabia is rethinking its investment in sports, seeking a return on their investment. LIV Golf has invested $5bn so far and is expected to lose money for the next five to 10 years.
Solhekol thinks that Saudi Arabia will continue to back sports like football, Formula 1, golf, boxing, and tennis, but with a more business-oriented approach. The emergence of LIV Golf has contributed to a division in professional golf, with some big names defecting to the breakaway tour.
Notable names 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. The Saudi-backed league started with 12 teams and 48 players but has expanded to 13 teams. Despite the challenges, LIV Golf has announced a total prize fund increase to $30m for 2026, with the team prize doubling to $10m alongside the $20m individual purse.