Coach Sergio Garcia said he could not say more about LIV Golf than had previously been guaranteed to players amid speculation about the league’s future.
LIV’s future has been the center of frenzied speculation since Tuesday night ahead of the latest event in Mexico City this week, with some initially suggesting on social media that its chances were in doubt.
The Daily Telegraph then reported on Wednesday that LIV Golf executives had been summoned to an “emergency meeting” in New York, and the Financial Times later reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is funding the project, was on the verge of cutting support, although no final decision had been made.
Sky Sports understands there has been a lot of confusion about the situation among LIV players and they are seeking reassurance, but team captains, including Garcia, have not been informed of the impending announcement.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
With the future of LIV golf in doubt, Paul McGinley believes the PGA Tour needs to reward its players for their loyalty.
It was business as usual at Mexico’s Club de Golf Chapultepec on Wednesday, with players practicing on the course in preparation for Thursday’s first round. Reports that players were not allowed onto the course or had their power cut off were unfounded.
Jon Rahm’s scheduled pre-event press conference did not take place in Mexico City on Tuesday, due to what LIV said was a technical reason, but Garcia was asked about the growing speculation about the former Masters champion on Wednesday when it went ahead as scheduled.
“Honestly, I’m not going to listen to anything other than what Yasir (LIV Golf chairman Al Rumayyan) told us at the beginning of the year, that he supports us, that they have a project for many years,” Garcia said in Spanish.
Sergio Garcia is the captain of LIV’s Fireballs team
“You know, there are always a lot of rumors.
“We can’t say anything more than we already know.”
Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner posted on X: “The brackets for tomorrow’s LIV Golf Mexico first round have just been announced, and it’s worth it. That said, the players are still waiting on their fate. We’ll know by mid-afternoon.”
Why is PIF withdrawing LIV support?
Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
“I think Saudi Arabia is rethinking a little bit about how much money they invest in sports.
“Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, invests the money Saudi Arabia earns from oil sales to diversify and grow the economy.
“PIF has announced a new investment strategy for the next five years and has also communicated the areas it will focus on. There are seven areas and the new strategy does not explicitly mention sports, but from speaking to people in Saudi Arabia in the past they would say that sports falls under the category of tourism and entertainment.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Amid speculation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding from LIV Golf, take a look at the organization’s rocky relationship with the rest of the golf world.
“So I don’t think they’re completely ignoring the sport, but I think it’s fair to say they’re rethinking and reprioritizing.
“I think their mentality is ‘business is business’ and they want a return on their investments. For example, in something like LIV, they’ve invested $5 billion so far, but even if they continue to fund LIV, they’re expected to be in the red for the next five to 10 years.”
“So going forward Saudi Arabia and the PIF will continue to support and invest in football, F1, golf, boxing and tennis, but they will do so with more of a business rationale. The deal has to make sense for them. They don’t want to be seen as someone who is just there to throw money at every athlete and every person who wants to come to Saudi Arabia.”
“There are wars going on in the Middle East as well, and economies around the world, especially in the Gulf region, are affected by that, so I think going forward Saudi Arabia is just saying to the world, ‘Look, we’re going to continue to invest in sports, but we’re going to be very smart about how we do it.'”
The story of LIV golf so far
LIV Golf launched in 2021 with funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as a rival to the established PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Its emergence led to a split in professional golf, with some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, withdrawing to breakout tours.
LIV Golf will be launched in 2021 as a rival to the existing tour.
The LIV began as a series of 54-hole tournaments, but was changed to 74 holes in 2026 with the aim of securing points in the Official World Golf Rankings.
LIV also announced that the total prize money for 2026 will be increased to $30 million, and team prize money will be doubled to $10 million, along with $20 million in individual prize money.
The Saudi-backed league started with 12 teams and 48 players and has since expanded to 13 teams, but has lost notable players in recent months, including five-time major champion Brooke Koepka and former Masters champion Patrick Reed.
Why Koepka and Reed made a U-turn to LIV
While Koepka has returned to the PGA Tour, Reed is aiming to return for the 2027 season and is currently competing on the DP World Tour.
The two confirmed their move in a statement on social media. “As a kid I dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour and today I’m just as excited to announce my return to the PGA Tour,” Koepka wrote in a post on X.
“This opportunity is especially meaningful to me because it allows me to be closer to home and spend more time with my family.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir talks about why Brooks Koepka was allowed to return to the PGA Tour under the new Returning Member Program after leaving LIV Golf.
“I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors and an equity program that gives players meaningful ownership.”
“After careful consideration, my family and I have decided to no longer compete on the LIV Golf Tour,” Reed wrote in a post on X.
“I’m a traditionalist at heart and was born to play on the PGA Tour. That’s where my wife Justin and I started our story.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Brooks Koepka reflects on his first day back on the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf.
“I’m moving forward in my career and looking forward to competing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. I can’t wait to get back out there and revisit some of the best places on the planet.”
Koepka and Reed finished tied for 12th at the 2026 Masters, but while some of LIV’s stars struggled, the notable exception was Tyrell Hatton, who tied for third at 10 under, just two strokes behind winner Rory McIlroy.
How did LIV golfers perform at the Masters?
Five of the 10 LIV participants were unable to compete at Augusta National. The most notable of these is Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time major winner and five-time champion at LIV.
DeChambeau missed the weekend after rounds of 76 and 74, the second of which he hit a triple-bogey 7 on the 18th hole.
Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia had a hard time making it, finishing tied for 38th and 52nd respectively. Dustin Johnson tied for 33rd and Charles Schwartzel tied for 54th.
Could Rory McIlroy achieve even greater success in 2026? The PGA Championship (May 14-17), US Open (June 18-21) and The Open (July 16-19) are all being broadcast live exclusively on Sky Sports. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
Book your round at the lowest price on one of 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
Book your round at the lowest price on one of 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
