Rory McIlroy has stated that LIV Golf players were fully aware of the risks when they chose to join the rebel league, as the tour's future remains uncertain. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV's primary financial backer, confirmed earlier this month that it will cease further funding after the current season ends.
PIF's shift in priorities
This decision is part of a broader strategic pivot by the sovereign wealth fund away from sports investments, potentially leaving LIV stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm in a precarious position. Speaking ahead of this week's US PGA Championship, McIlroy, a longtime critic of LIV, commented on the situation.
“It was always a possibility that could happen,” McIlroy said. “Their priorities shifted and that leaves LIV in a pretty precarious spot, but that was always a possibility. A lot of us almost knew before the players did that this was going to happen. It feels like the rug was pulled from under their feet and everyone was blindsided by it. That was the risk that those guys chose to take and there’s a lot of uncertainty in the air right now.”
What next for LIV Golf?
Major winners such as DeChambeau, Rahm, Sergio Garcia, and Cameron Smith remain the biggest draws on the LIV Golf tour, which has been praised for bringing the sport to large audiences in Australia and South Africa. However, the league has cost PIF over $5 billion over five seasons, with little prospect of turning a profit in the near future.
Rahm's potential route back to traditional golf could be via the DP World Tour rather than the PGA Tour. He paid millions in fines earlier this month to ensure his eligibility for next year's Ryder Cup. McIlroy added, “If they do somehow get a schedule together for next year it looks like it’s going to be drastically different.”
The US PGA Championship is currently being held at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
