LIV Golf secures lead investor ahead of 2027 season

LIV Golf has secured a new lead investor, strengthening the league’s hopes of continuing beyond the 2026 season. 

This is the latest development as the league transitions away from exclusive Saudi Arabian backing.

Chief executive Scott O’Neil confirmed that an agreement with the unnamed investor has already been approved by LIV Golf’s board, with the deal expected to be finalized in September. 

While O’Neil declined to reveal the investor’s identity or the size of the investment, he described the agreement as a key part of the league’s long-term future.

The announcement is coming after a turbulent few months for LIV Golf. In April, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has financed the circuit since its launch in 2022, announced it would end its funding after the 2026 season.

The decision forced LIV to search for new financial partners while raising questions about the league’s long-term viability.

Rather than relying on a single backer, LIV now plans to adopt a multi-investor model. O’Neil said the lead investor will anchor that structure, with more than a dozen other parties expressing interest in acquiring minority stakes. 

Potential investors include private equity firms, family offices, and strategic partners, as the league attempts to build a broader financial base.

The funding is expected to support what LIV executives have described as the next phase of the competition. 

Plans for 2027 include reducing the schedule from 14 tournaments to 10 events, split evenly between the United States and international venues. 

The league also intends to increase player ownership by making golfers the majority equity holders in the competition.

LIV’s leadership believes the restructuring will make the circuit more sustainable after four years of operating with substantial financial support from the PIF. 

Since launching in 2022, the league has spent billions of dollars attracting major champions and Ryder Cup stars from established tours while offering some of the richest prize funds in professional golf.

The league has not disclosed how much capital the new investor will provide or what influence the investor will have over the league’s future direction. 

The circuit has also yet to confirm which players will remain under contract beyond 2026 as it prepares for a leaner operating model.