What does the future hold for LIV Golf?
That’s one of the biggest questions facing the pro golf world as the 2026 season speeds toward its conclusion. Bryson DeChambeau has said he’s “optimistic” about the business model CEO Scott O’Neil is pitching to potential investors and believes LIV Golf will have a path forward in 2027 despite the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announcing it will pull funding after the 2026 season. “I think we all have optimism that there is a business plan that makes sense for team golf,” DeChambeau said at LIV Korea in May. “We’ll see if investors like it or not. I’m giving all I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t happen.”
Sergio Garcia struck a similar tone. The Fireballs captain said he’s more concerned about what LIV will look like not if it will exist. O’Neil is seeking between $250 million and $300 million from outside investors and has said LIV has “great momentum.” However, the CEO would not commit to the league having enough money to finish out the 2026 season.
Despite an uncertain future, most involved with LIV Golf are projecting confidence about 2027 and beyond.
Carlos Ortiz is not among them.
Ortiz, a member of Torque GC, is playing at the DP World Tour’s BMW International Open this week. Ortiz is one of nine LIV Golf members in the field this week, with LIV in the middle of a nine-week stretch with no events after postponing its New Orleans Tournament (it has yet to be rescheduled). Ortiz has won just once on LIV since joining the rebel league in 2022 but has reportedly earned around $34 million on the course. After vaulting into contention on Friday in Germany, Ortiz was asked about the league’s murky future.
His update was less optimistic than those given by his league-mates in recent weeks.
“It’s looking a little bit tough; hopefully there’s a way forward,” Ortiz said. “I honestly don’t know all the situation, but it’s not looking great, obviously, as we all know. That’s a shame. I’ve really enjoyed my time playing all around the world, and it’s been awesome playing with my team [Torque GC].
“We’ll see what happens, but whatever happens, I’m sure I’ll find a place to play and, for me, it’s just about playing golf. If I can start coming to places like this and seeing new places, then it will be great. For me, whatever happens is totally fine.”
Earlier in the week, Martin Kaymer, who captains the Cleeks, told bunkered.co that O’Neil held a meeting to provide an update on the league’s future after the 2026 season. According to Kaymer, the outlook was positive, but everything remains up in the air.
“The way it looked last night was really positive; there’s interest. I don’t know if they’ll pull through, but they presented a business plan and some kind of strategy for what 2027 can look like,” Kaymer told bunkered. “They also asked if we’d like to be part of it or not. I’m not sure if they’re going to ask every player or only the captains, but the way he presented it was very positive to me. They have spent a lot of time, a lot of thoughts on the topic of keeping going, because I think we had such great momentum.
“We still get some bad press here and there, but I guess that’s normal, doesn’t matter where you play. If he can get the job done until the end of July, to have investors for 2027 – don’t ask me how much money they need to raise – then it will be cool to continue the journey.”
While DeChambeau and other captains are helping O’Neil pitch investors on the future vision for LIV, Jon Rahm is not. The league’s other big star is choosing to do what he does best and let the chips fall where they may.
“It would be more of a stay-in-your-lane type situation as it goes to me,” Rahm said at LIV Golf Andalucia. “I know nothing about business. I’m never going to claim to know anything about business. And if I was in a business pitch, I would not know the first thing to say.
“My job is to play golf, and I’ll say it is hard enough as it is, especially this week.”
LIV Golf has three tournaments left on the 2026 schedule. The league will hold its UK event after the Open Championship, then is scheduled to head to Indianapolis and Michigan to wrap up the year.
And then everyone will wait to see if LIV Golf returns in 2027.
