LIV Golf Reportedly Preparing for Bankruptcy as Saudi Sovereign Fund Halts Funding
The professional golf tour LIV Golf is reportedly preparing for a potential U.S. bankruptcy filing amid funding pressure, according to foreign media. This comes as its main backer, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), has decided to cease funding after the 2026 season. The financial strain has already led the Asian Tour to cancel a planned prize money increase for this week's Korea Open, which LIV Golf had pledged to support with an additional $500,000.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 15:53
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(CNA, Chuncheon, South Korea, 20th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Foreign media has reported that the professional golf tour LIV Golf is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing in the United States due to pressure from funding shortages. Agence France-Presse reported that the Asian Tour announced today it has cancelled its plan to increase the total prize money for this week's Korea Open. Just weeks earlier, LIV Golf had announced it would contribute an additional $500,000 to the event. Since its inception in 2022, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested over $5 billion (approximately NT$160 billion) into LIV Golf. However, the PIF stated in April this year that continuing to invest in the league is no longer aligned with its long-term investment strategy. The PIF's decision to stop funding after the 2026 season has left LIV Golf scrambling to find new investors and has raised questions about the future of its highly-paid star players. Reuters, citing an earlier report by Bloomberg, stated that LIV Golf is evaluating multiple options, including finding new investors, but has also begun preparations for a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the United States. In response to these reports, a spokesperson for LIV Golf did not directly confirm them, stating only that the league remains focused on building a sustainable future and is exploring various possible options. (Compiler: Liu Wen-yu) 1150520