WASHINGTON, May 7, 2026, 07:04 (EDT)
Bryson DeChambeau isn’t shy about his Plan B if LIV Golf collapses: He’ll double down on YouTube, start dubbing his videos for fresh audiences, and stick to whatever tournaments will have him. The two-time major winner laid out his options as LIV launched its first U.S. event for 2026 at Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C.—with speculation about the league’s future after Saudi backing swirling on the grounds.
Why it matters now: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) last week said it would keep funding LIV just through the end of 2026. Calling its “substantial investment” misaligned with its current strategy, the fund is stepping back, leaving LIV to hunt for new backers and prompting players to brace for a future without the deep pockets of a state-backed start-up. Reuters
LIV isn’t folding. Instead, the league has set up a new independent board, and tapped Ducera Partners, a New York investment bank, for guidance. Chief executive Scott O’Neil put it simply: the goal now is to create “the right financial foundation” for lasting growth. Reuters
At 32, DeChambeau stands out as a crucial figure for LIV. He told reporters he’s aiming to triple his YouTube following, or possibly surpass that target. Golf Channel reported his current audience at 2.69 million subscribers.
DeChambeau has talked with the PGA Tour, though that situation is complicated. He signed with LIV in June 2022, then became one of 11 players suing the PGA Tour later that year—he pulled out of the lawsuit in May 2023. As for whether PIF will cover the remainder of his LIV contract if things fall apart, he offered: “Your guess is as good as mine.” Reuters
That sets him apart from Jon Rahm, who still has “several years” to go on his LIV deal and just reached a settlement with the DP World Tour this week. According to a DP World Tour statement, Rahm will pay all his outstanding fines and commit to a set of European events outside the majors—a move that preserves his shot at the 2027 Ryder Cup, as long as he keeps his record clean. Golf Channel
Ian Poulter, among the first to jump to LIV, took the opportunity to issue a warning to the European circuit. “I fear for them,” he told The Telegraph, saying the DP World Tour leans on PGA Tour funding and might end up squeezed again if LIV stops pushing the U.S. tour into defensive spending. Golf Monthly
Poulter’s jab comes with a real business angle. While the overall contract between the PGA and DP World Tour is set through 2035, their strategic alliance could be unwound as soon as 2027. The Guardian, back in March, noted that the PGA Tour’s yearly investment into the European Tour Group jumped to £21.5 million in 2024.
Saudi Arabia’s retrenchment isn’t limited to golf. According to DW, Riyadh offloaded 70% of its stake in Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, scrapped the Saudi Arabia Masters in snooker, cut WTA support, and ditched bids for both the 2035 Rugby World Cup and the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The government is still holding onto some sports investments, mainly those linked to football and Formula One.
Still, private money could come into play for LIV, especially if the tour trims down and players are willing to take smaller prize pools, reduced guarantees, or maybe even a stake in teams. The catch? Any fresh backers will likely want to see real traction—TV numbers, sponsor interest, and tighter budgets—before putting up cash for a league that, until now, ran on PIF’s deep pockets. O’Neil’s made it clear: LIV needs to overhaul its approach in a big way.
O’Neil has been telling players and partners he’s confident there’s a way forward. He said he’s fielded around a dozen inbound inquiries from would-be investors—private equity, family offices, and some deep-pocketed sports backers all in the mix. O’Neil contends that LIV’s team-based model could represent “extraordinary value.” The Straits Times
A few LIV golfers are now pitching the circuit as something outside Saudi funding. Graeme McDowell—an early joiner—called for LIV to act like a “legitimate business” and likened the future to standing “on our own two feet.” Reuters
DeChambeau faces both leverage and a cloud of uncertainty. Should LIV secure funding, he’s not just swinging clubs—he’s pitching himself as a media draw, captain, full package. Without that money, though, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour hold the cards on how rough his return could get. The most concrete figure attached to him at this moment isn’t a signing bonus. It’s his YouTube follower count.
