LIV Golf has taken a significant step towards securing its long-term future after Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil confirmed that the league has reached an agreement with a lead investor, easing uncertainty surrounding its future beyond the 2026 season.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of this week’s LIV Golf New York event at Trump National Bedminster, O’Neil announced that the agreement has been signed by the investor and approved by the LIV Golf Board.
“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor… to support the path forward for the league’s next era, driven by and for the players,” O’Neil said.
He added that the league is also in discussions with more than a dozen additional parties interested in becoming minority investors, with the aim of creating a diversified ownership structure designed for long-term financial stability and sustainable growth.
Perhaps the most significant announcement was O’Neil’s confirmation that the proposed ownership model would make LIV Golf’s players the majority equity holders in the league—a move he described as a first for a major global sports league.
While declining to identify the lead investor or disclose the financial terms of the deal, O’Neil said negotiations are expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the transaction targeted for completion in September 2026.
The announcement comes after months of speculation over LIV Golf’s future following reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has reportedly invested more than US$5 billion in the league since its launch in 2022, would end its financial backing after the 2026 season.
The latest development also follows a players-only meeting led by Bryson DeChambeau on Tuesday, after discussions between players and LIV Golf executives regarding the league’s future.
Although LIV Golf now appears set to continue beyond 2026, questions remain over what the competition will look like from 2027 onwards. Reports suggest the league could transition to a streamlined calendar of approximately 10 events, split between international team competitions and tournaments held ahead of golf’s major championships, with reduced prize purses that may fall below US$15 million per event.
There is also uncertainty surrounding several high-profile players whose contracts expire after the 2026 season, including two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
Addressing the issue, O’Neil expressed confidence in the league’s ability to retain its biggest stars.
“We would certainly love them to come along for the journey,” he said. “We have enough support from enough players, and we have such an interesting global format that we’ll continue to attract the right stars for this game.”
The investment announcement marks one of the most important developments in LIV Golf’s short history and signals a new chapter as the league seeks to establish a more sustainable, player-led business model while continuing its global expansion.
