Saudi Arabia's PIF to end funding of LIV Golf league after this season

A general scene of LIV Golf signage during Day Three at LIV Michigan at The Cardinal at Saint John's on Aug. 24, 2025 in Plymouth, Michigan. Michael Miller | ISI Photos | Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will end funding of the LIV Golf league after the 2026 season, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC's Sara Eisen, leaving the controversial golf venture in limbo. The league, founded in 2021, was positioned as a rival to the PGA Tour and drew high-profile athletes. In 2023, it agreed to merge with the PGA Tour , but that deal has yet to come to fruition. A committee of independent directors will evaluate strategic alternatives for the league after PIF pulls its funding, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. LIV declined to comment. LIV Chief Executive Officer Scott O'Neil alluded to the idea that PIF could pull its funding in a broadcast interview earlier this month from a LIV tournament in Mexico City. "The reality is you're funded through the season and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going," O'Neil said. "But that's not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of mankind." LIV's non-U.S. operations reported losing nearly $600 million in 2024. In 2025, LIV announced new broadcast partnerships with FOX, IVT, DAZN and KC Global Media LIV, but TV ratings have lagged behind the more established PGA Tour. …