Golf Channel analyst weighs on in shock rumour LIV is about to disband

A "bombshell" announcement on LIV Golf's future will be made later today, according to a report. 

Golf reporter Ryan French aka acaseofthegolf on X, claimed on Wednesday he's heard from "multiple sources" an announcement about the league's future is imminent.  

"We don't give out gambling advice but if you're a prediction market type person, I would bet the under of whatever they have posted," he wrote on X. 

Almost immediately, speculation spread like wildfire over what the announcement could be. 

Has Bryson DeChambeau decided against signing a new contract with LIV Golf? Is Jon Rahm about to depart?

Or could the league, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, sensationally announce they are shuttering the project altogether?

Who knows, but former PGA Tour winner and current LIV Golf star, Anthony Kim, appeared to indicate something is in the works by posting an exploding head emoji on his X account. 

Unsurprisingly, prominent LIV Golf critic, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, predicted it could be the nail in the coffin for LIV. 

Since LIV's inauguration in 2022, the former PGA Tour winner has been one of, if not the most, vocal critic of the league and their players. 

"Given that the product was so ill-conceived and ended up being worse than anyone could have imagined - with shotgun starts, initially 54 holes, a team concept that was nothing but laughable and tournaments that meant and continue to mean nothing, and such a paltry number of viewers, losing billions along the way – would it surprise anyone if the Saudis came to their senses and finally euthanized the whole lame-brained tour."

We'll have to wait and see what happens. 

With former Open champion Greg Norman as commissioner, LIV Golf launched in June 2022. 

LIV lured several multiple PGA Tour winners and major champions with huge contracts, sparking unprecedented disruption in the elite men's game. 

The aforementioned DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith were among the first players to sign up.

Legal battles between the PGA Tour and PIF followed, but the litigation was dropped after the organisations announced a shock "framework agreement" on 6 June 2023 that also included the DP World Tour. 

The deal was made in secret by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF officials over a series of secret meetings across the globe.  

Professional golfers also had no knowledge of the talks and were furious with Monahan. 

Despite multiple rounds of talks - that also included American president Donald Trump - the deal has never been consummated. 

Given the length of time that has passed, it is unlikely that any deal will ever be agreed. 

Speaking in March, new PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp indicated that talks with the PIF weren't high on their agenda. 

"When it comes to that situation particularly, I think the fans have been pretty clear," Rolapp said. 

"They want to see the best golfers competing against each other. I think everybody as a golf fan. I agree with that.

"When it comes to the situation with LIV, I think that’s a complex situation that’s probably something I should learn more about before I speak. But I will say my focus is on growing the Tour, making it better, and really moving on from the position of strength that it has."

Norman's replacement, Scott O'Neil, echoed his sentiments. 

Speaking to the Sports Business Journal last December, O'Neil said he would prefer to keep his interactions with Rolapp private. 

"We're both new in our roles and I won’t speak for him," he said. "I'll speak for me.

"I spend 95 per cent of my time focusing on LIV Golf and how we grow this business and the other five on a whole host of things, including what the ecosystem looks like and how we can better engage."

He added: "So, I feel like there’ll be the new world order, if you will. 

"Seems like the dominant player in the U.S. will be the PGA Tour and the dominant player in the rest of the world is going to be LIV Golf, and how those leagues and tours coincide and work together and create content and engage, I think will emerge over time. 

"But we're happy with our progress for sure."

Plenty has also been made about LIV's finances. 

Money in Sport took a deep dive on the issue in February, claiming the PIF was approaching a $5bn in total investment. 

O'Neil told the Financial Times two months ago that it would take approximately five to 10 years for the league to become profitable.