For Sergio Garcia, the big question about LIV Golf is not what you think
As LIV Golf continues its tumultuous 2026 season, questions about its uncertain future after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announced it will withdraw its financial support from the league continue to grow stronger. Bryson DeChambeau said he was involved in helping LIV CEO Scott O’Neil organize the league, while Jon Rahm chose to focus on his golf and let O’Neil and others decide the future of LIV.
O’Neil is reportedly seeking between $250 million and $350 million to stabilize LIV going forward, with the league looking to downsize to 10 events with much smaller purses. Before last week’s event in Korea there were reports that LIV Golf was laying the groundwork for bankruptcy in the United States if it could not secure new investors. LIV has already postponed the tournament in New Orleans that was scheduled for June 25-28.
Most would describe the future of LIV Golf as very bleak, but Sergio Garcia feels differently about what lies ahead. Garcia, who joined LIV Golf when it burst onto the scene in 2022 and is one of the captains who participated in the investor meetings, was asked on Tuesday before LIV Golf Andalucia about what the future holds for LIV. The 2017 Masters champion sees uncertainty but not where you might think.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of uncertainty; I think it’s clear that there’s a little bit of uncertainty,” Garcia told Valderrama. “But we are very happy with the work done by our CEO, Scott [O’Neil]and his team includes. We are happy to participate in it, give our opinions and see how we can help to ensure that the league moves forward. We are very confident that will happen. It will look different.
“In my opinion, more than worrying about whether LIV will continue or the league will continue, it is more about how it will look forward.”
Last week in Korea, DeChambeau, who is out of contract with LIV at the end of the year, reiterated his hope that the breakout league will continue in 2026 given that the golf club is part of the latest investment platform and LIV Golf’s post-PIF plan.
“One door closes, another door opens. I think that’s the way a lot of us look at it,” DeChambeau said last week. “I think we’re all optimistic that there’s a business plan that makes sense for club golf. I can honestly say – how can I say it? I’m very optimistic about the business plan for club golf compared to other models, in my opinion.”
DeChambeau and Garcia are hopeful that LIV Golf will be able to survive this turbulent period and evolve into something sustainable in the long term. But last week in Korea, DeChambeau kept it honest as he talked about what the future might look like, with him, O’Neil and others putting big-money investors into a league focused on team golf and equity on the team.
“We will see if the investors like it or not,” he said. “I’m giving everything I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”
Garcia didn’t divulge specifics about O’Neil’s next plan, but he hopes it will deliver what he and the other players are looking for.
“I think that’s where we are,” Garcia said. “We’re trying to figure out the best way to move forward and how we can be happy for all of us, not just us but our fans, our sponsors, everyone involved. We’re looking forward to seeing the final product.”
