Joaquin Niemann: LIV Golf funding issue was "somewhat predictable"

Joaquin Niemann says the decision by LIV Golf's financiers to scale back their support was "somewhat predictable" as he revealed he remains undecided over whether to commit his future to the league.

The Chilean is one of the breakaway tour's leading players and has earned close to $90m on the course since leaving the PGA Tour in 2022.

Niemann has won nine individual titles with LIV, but despite that success, there has been speculation that the 31-year-old could be considering a return to the PGA Tour.

It's understood that LIV Golf players have until 13 October to make up their minds before the league can press ahead with plans for next season.

But Niemann told La Tercera in a wide-ranging Q&A that he's still not made up his mind.

"The truth is, it [PIF's decision to withdraw financial support] was somewhat predictable, because obviously around the world, putting golf aside, there's everything that's going on, the wars...

"Saudi Arabia has been somewhat affected, and while the PIF is one of the most powerful investment funds in the world, there's been that uncertainty about what's going to happen outside of golf.

"And knowing that golf is a tremendous expense for them, even though LIV was taking more shape, it still needed a lot of capital to be injected to be able to compete with the PGA Tour.

"In the end, there are new institutions financing the LIV concept. Because the idea is incredible - to be able to reach other tournaments around the world. It's a different kind of golf product."

Niemann said there are many "intelligent people" trying to secure LIV's future.

"And the truth is that I'm still undecided about what I'm going to do," he said.  

"Whether I want to stay and believe in what the league has, or play more in Europe and from there try to get back onto the PGA Tour.

"Those are my two options in the end. I'll have to make a decision within a couple of weeks."

Under LIV Golf's proposed new ownership structure, players would become the majority equity holders in the league, giving them a direct financial stake in its future value.

Players are also expected to get some of their name, image and likeness rights back.

Niemann said the prospect of becoming a shareholder was one of the factors he had to consider.

"I think both options have very positive aspects: being part of a league, owning a percentage of the league," he said.

"Knowing that it's something that I think could take a couple of years, I don't know if that's something I want to take on at this stage of my career.

"So those are questions I have to ask myself and then make a decision.

"There are still things that need to happen before I can make a decision like that 100 percent and tell you, 'I'm going to do this or I'm going to do that.'

"I still can't make a decision."

Niemann added that neither he nor his representatives have reached out to the PGA Tour about a possible return.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp reiterated last month that the circuit has no plans to roll out another returning-member programme similar to the one Brooks Koepka took advantage of when he left LIV Golf.

"They have their rules, and the truth is that there's nothing that can be done," Niemann said.

He added: "Obviously, if they can open a door for me somehow, that would be incredible.

"And if not, a door will open at some point.

"In the end, they're going to need good players, and competition ultimately requires having the best players together."