LIV Golf CEO Admits Tour Only Funded Through 2026 Season

The Saudi-backed league faces an uncertain future beyond the current year.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:21pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in muted tones depicting an abstract golf scene, conveying the turbulent state of the LIV Golf league.The uncertain future of the LIV Golf tour is reflected in a deconstructed, cubist-inspired illustration of the sport.NYC Today

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil acknowledged that the Saudi-backed rebel golf league is only funded through the 2026 season, raising questions about its long-term viability. O'Neil's comments come amid reports of financial troubles and a lawsuit from a rival league claiming to have pioneered the breakaway golf concept.

Why it matters

LIV Golf has struggled to gain traction since its inception in 2021, facing criticism over its Saudi financing and inability to award world ranking points. The league's future appears uncertain as it battles legal challenges and rumors of high-profile player defections back to the PGA Tour.

The details

In an interview with TNT Sports UK, O'Neil said the 'reality is that you're funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.' This comes after O'Neil sent an email to staffers pushing back on reports that the league is set to fold. LIV Golf has also faced technical issues, with the broadcast of its Mexico City tournament going dark shortly after play began, which the league blamed on 'local power outages.' Additionally, LIV and its Saudi backers are facing a lawsuit from Premier Golf and World Golf Group Limited, which claims it was the first to conceive of a breakaway golf league.

  • LIV Golf kicked off its Mexico City tournament on April 17, 2026.
  • LIV Golf has eight tournaments scheduled, wrapping up in Michigan on August 30, 2026.

The players

Scott O'Neil

The CEO of LIV Golf, who acknowledged the league is only funded through the 2026 season.

Premier Golf

A company that has filed a lawsuit against LIV Golf and its parent company, World Golf Group Limited, claiming it was the first to conceive of a breakaway golf league concept.

World Golf Group Limited

The parent company of Premier Golf, which has filed a lawsuit against LIV Golf claiming it was the first to conceive of a breakaway golf league concept.

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What they’re saying

“The reality is that you're funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.”

— Scott O'Neil, CEO, LIV Golf

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle. While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before.”

— Scott O'Neil, CEO, LIV Golf

What’s next

If LIV Golf makes it to the end of its 2026 schedule in Michigan, the future of the league beyond that point remains uncertain.

The takeaway

LIV Golf's long-term viability is in question as the Saudi-backed league faces financial uncertainty, legal challenges, and continued criticism over its business model and Saudi financing. The league's CEO's admission that it is only funded through the 2026 season raises serious doubts about its ability to sustain operations beyond the current year.