Jon Rahm, a top player in LIV Golf, has expressed that he is not overly concerned about the league's financial future, despite speculation surrounding its funding. Recent rumors suggested that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, may be reconsidering its investment due to a new five-year strategy that does not explicitly mention the golf league. However, Rahm remains unfazed, stating that he will not worry about the rumors until he receives confirmation from those in charge. LIV Golf's latest event in Mexico City has commenced, with Rahm shooting a 65 to place second, three strokes behind Victor Perez.
In a statement, Rahm said, 'Until the people in charge told me if the rumors were valid or not, it didn't make sense for me to think about it or to waste time thinking about it.' He added that he was focused on preparing for the tournament and did not have time to worry about the speculation. The Daily Telegraph reported that LIV Golf executives were summoned to an emergency meeting in New York, while the Financial Times stated that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was considering cutting its support for the league.
Despite these reports, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil expressed confidence in the league's future, citing its revenue growth and sponsorship deals with major brands like Rolex and HSBC. O'Neil said, 'If we keep the trajectory going the way we are and the revenue growth going, this is going to be a really good business for a really long time.' He also mentioned that the league is looking to evolve and potentially merge with national opens to grow the game of golf. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol noted that Saudi Arabia is reevaluating its investment in sports, seeking a return on its investment and adopting a more business-oriented approach.
Solhekol stated, 'I think Saudi Arabia is having a little bit of a rethink about how much money it invests in sport... They want a return on their investment.'