DeChambeau Admits LIV Golf Stars Were Blindsided by Saudi Funding Withdrawal
Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau has revealed that LIV Golf players did not anticipate Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund pulling its financial backing from the breakaway circuit. DeChambeau, speaking ahead of LIV Korea, expressed cautious optimism about the league's future despite the uncertainty surrounding its finances.
Bryson DeChambeau has opened up about the shock felt within LIV Golf's ranks following the stunning announcement that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) would stop financing the breakaway league after the 2026 season.
Speaking to reporters at Asiad Country Club in Busan, South Korea, ahead of this week's LIV Korea event, DeChambeau admitted that the players were caught off guard by the speed of the decision. The two-time major champion acknowledged that while the news was unexpected, many within the organization are choosing to view the situation as an opportunity rather than a setback.
PIF had reportedly invested more than $5 billion into the circuit since its founding in 2021, making the abrupt withdrawal — announced on May 1 — all the more startling. The announcement immediately plunged LIV Golf into a period of significant uncertainty, with league executives rushing to develop a new business plan capable of attracting fresh investors and commercial sponsors.
LIV CEO Scott O'Neil is reportedly seeking $250 million to keep the league operational, while separate reports have emerged suggesting the organization has been laying the groundwork for a potential bankruptcy filing in the United States.
Despite the turbulent backdrop, DeChambeau — one of LIV's most prominent figures alongside fellow star Jon Rahm — struck a measured and optimistic tone. He expressed strong belief in the viability of the team golf model as a business proposition, while conceding that its survival ultimately depends on whether investors share that vision.
The American golfer also noted that players are doing what they can to support the league's efforts behind the scenes, though he acknowledged the outcome rests largely in the hands of the organization's leadership. DeChambeau made clear that if the collective effort fails to yield results, the landscape of professional golf could look very different for everyone involved.