Aussie Golfer Left Without Support as LIV Golf Loses Funding

Australia's Cameron Smith is one of several LIV Golf players who refused a PGA Tour offer to return.

In short:

Saudi Arabia has stopped funding LIV Golf.

Cameron Smith is one of several high-profile names who did not return to the PGA Tour.

What's next?

LIV Golf postponed a tournament in Louisiana.

Saudi Arabia's fund stopped supporting LIV Golf, leaving it to find a new path.

Staff and players knew the fund would only support LIV Golf until the end of the year. LIV Golf is trying to find new partners.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan is no longer the chairman of LIV Golf.

The fund said it will only support LIV Golf for the rest of the 2026 season.

The investment needed for LIV Golf is not part of the fund's current strategy.

Yasir Al Rumayyan was with Dustin Johnson at a LIV Golf event in 2022.

LIV Golf has spent $US5.3 billion since it started in 2022. It spent $1 billion to lure top players away from the PGA Tour.

Prize money increased to $30 million at each event this year.

The fund has a new five-year investment strategy focused on value creation and governance.

LIV Golf postponed its Louisiana tournament and is scheduled to play in northern Virginia.

A new board is leading LIV Golf, with a focus on securing long-term financial partners.

LIV Golf expects 10 of its 13 teams to be profitable this year and has five title sponsors.

The executive leadership team sees an opportunity to formalize LIV Golf's structure and attract long-term capital.

LIV Golf looks forward to positioning itself for future success.

The CEO at LIV Golf said the reality is that the business needs to create a plan to keep going after the season.

There are questions about whether LIV Golf can keep its top players once their contracts expire.

Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf after last season and returned to the PGA Tour with certain conditions.

The PGA Tour offered a path back to three other LIV players who had won majors, but none accepted.

The PGA Tour CEO said the tour is interested in having the best players who can help the tour.

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour but with certain conditions.

Patrick Reed chose not to renew his LIV contract and is playing on the European Tour schedule.

It is unclear what the path back to the PGA Tour is for other LIV Golf players.

DeChambeau said he would figure out a way to make LIV Golf work as long as it exists.

DeChambeau said there are many moving parts in any business.

DeChambeau sees the value in franchise golf and will do everything to make it work.

Al-Rumayyan leaving his post as LIV Golf chairman costs the players their biggest ally.

Al-Rumayyan was passionate about golf and wanted a seat at the table with the sport's leadership.

Al-Rumayyan signed a framework agreement to unify the commercial assets of golf.

The deal never materialized, except for ending antitrust lawsuits.

Al-Rumayyan met with President Donald Trump, but LIV and the PGA Tour could not find common ground.

Al-Rumayyan was all about team golf when he launched the league.

The team concept was one reason it took more than 3 years for LIV to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking.