Jon Rahm, one of the most prominent figures on the LIV Golf circuit, recently emphasized that he is not "overly concerned" about the long‑term outlook for the breakaway tour, even as rumors swirl about its financial footing. The speculation stems from the fact that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the primary backer of LIV Golf, unveiled a new five‑year investment plan that made no explicit reference to continued funding for the league. This omission has fueled talk that the PIF might be reconsidering its commitment. Despite the growing uncertainty, the latest LIV event – LIV Mexico – kicked off on Thursday at the historic Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
The tournament proceeded as scheduled, though the live broadcast suffered a few technical glitches that LIV Golf attributed to local power outages. Rahm, who posted a solid 65 to finish just three strokes behind Victor Perez, used his post‑round interview to stress that he was not losing sleep over the league's future.
"Until the people in charge tell me whether the rumors are true or not, there is no point in wasting time worrying about it," Rahm explained. "We arrived here ready to play, and our focus was simply on preparing for the tournament. When the rumors erupted so quickly, I chose not to let them distract me. Usually, we hear something before it becomes public, so I just kept my attention on the game." Rahm added that there is always someone within the organization who is privy to the latest developments, and the rapid pace of the news cycle meant he did not feel the need to dwell on unverified reports.
"It happened so fast that I didn't have time to get concerned," he said. The broader context includes reports from the Daily Telegraph that LIV Golf executives were summoned to an emergency meeting in New York, followed by a Financial Times story suggesting that the PIF was on the brink of reducing its financial support, though no definitive decision had been announced. Money in Sport noted in February that LIV Golf had already expended $5.3 billion (£3.9 billion) and was on track to exceed $6 billion (£4.42 billion) by year‑end. Sky Sports indicated that many players are seeking reassurance, yet team captains have not been briefed on any imminent announcements.
Since its launch in 2022, LIV Golf has attracted a roster of high‑profile PGA Tour players by offering roughly $1 billion in signing bonuses to stars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm himself. This year the prize pool for individual competitors and the 13 teams was lifted to $30 million.
Scott O'Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, remains confident about the league's trajectory. Speaking during Thursday's televised broadcast, he aimed to dispel the notion that the circuit was on the verge of collapse. "If we keep the revenue growth on its current path, this will become a very successful business for a long time," O'Neil asserted.
He highlighted that last year the organization secured almost half a billion dollars in sponsorship deals with global brands like Rolex, HSBC, and Aramco, placing LIV Golf in a strong financial position. From a structural perspective, O'Neil explained that the league will continue to evolve as it has over the past twelve months.
He emphasized that LIV knows how to produce compelling events and expand the game's reach. Looking ahead, he hinted at a hybrid model that blends LIV tournaments with traditional national opens, describing the latter as "under‑appreciated, under‑marketed, and under‑developed assets" that can help grow the sport at the grassroots level. He also argued that a thriving LIV Golf benefits multiple stakeholders. "If I'm a PGA Tour player, I want LIV to survive because the prize money is attractive and competition drives business," O'Neil said.
"If I'm a TV network, LIV provides engaging content. If I'm a journalist, it adds spice to the news.
And if I'm a fan, I simply want more golf to watch around the world." He concluded that the upside of a continued LIV presence outweighs the consequences of its disappearance. LIV Golf was founded in 2021 with backing from the Saudi PIF, positioning itself as a rival to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Its emergence has caused a split in professional golf, prompting several marquee players, including Mickelson, Rahm and Johnson, to switch allegiances.
Initially, LIV events were 54‑hole competitions, but the format will shift to 74 holes beginning in 2026 in an effort to secure Official World Golf Ranking points. The league also announced a prize fund increase for 2026, raising the total purse to $30 million, with the team prize doubling to $10 million alongside a $20 million individual pool.
Starting with 12 teams and 48 players, LIV expanded to 13 teams, though it recently lost notable figures such as Brooks Koepka and former Masters champion Jordan Spieth. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol offered insight into the PIF's evolving strategy.
He explained that the sovereign wealth fund, which invests oil revenues to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy, released a new five‑year plan that omitted sport as a distinct focus area. While sport may still fall under broader categories like tourism and entertainment, Solhekol suggested the fund is reassessing its priorities and seeking a clearer business return on its investments.
"They have already put about $5 billion into LIV, and the expectation is that it will continue to lose money for the next five to ten years," he said. "Going forward, they will back sports like football, Formula 1, golf, boxing and tennis, but only if the deals make financial sense." He also noted that global economic pressures, including the ongoing war in the Middle East, have impacted economies worldwide, especially in the Gulf region. Consequently, Saudi Arabia is likely to continue investing in sport, but with a more prudent, results‑oriented approach. In summary, while rumors about the PIF scaling back its support for LIV Golf persist, Jon Rahm remains focused on his performance and untroubled by speculation.
League officials continue to project confidence, emphasizing sponsorship deals, evolving tournament formats, and a strategic blend of traditional events to sustain growth. The coming months will reveal whether the PIF's revised investment strategy will alter the financial landscape for LIV Golf, but for now, players like Rahm are concentrating on the game rather than the boardroom.