Jon Rahm shrugs off LIV Golf uncertainty as $5bn PIF questions continue to swirl

Jon Rahm has brushed aside growing uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s financial future, insisting he has little reason to worry despite mounting reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) could scale back its backing of the breakaway circuit.

LIV Golf, launched in 2022 as a rival to the PGA Tour, has reportedly received close to $5 billion (£3.7bn) in funding to date. However, multiple reports this week have suggested that the PIF’s financial commitment is only guaranteed through the end of the current season, raising questions about the league’s long-term sustainability without external investment.

Speaking after an opening-round 65 at LIV Golf Mexico City — leaving him solo second on the leaderboard and three shots behind leader Victor Perez — Rahm made it clear he is not getting caught up in speculation.

“Until the people in charge told me if the rumours were valid or not, it didn’t make sense for me to think about it or to waste time thinking about it,” Rahm told reporters, in quotes that were translated from Spanish into English. 

The European Ryder Cup hero added that the speed at which the rumours emerged made them difficult to take seriously.

“As everything suddenly came out so quickly, I wasn’t too worried about that. Normally, before the rumours come out, we know something. There’s always someone in the league who knows something. It was so fast that I didn’t really worry about it.”

Rahm’s latest comments come as LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil continues efforts to steady concerns internally and externally. 

Reports claim players and staff have been informed that current funding runs through the season, but O’Neil has reiterated that the league remains committed to its future, including a full 2026 schedule.

In an interview broadcast during the first round of LIV Golf Mexico City on Thursday, O’Neil criticised media coverage of the situation, pointing to what he described as an overreliance on unnamed sources.

“I’m disappointed with some of the coverage,” he said. “I’ve never been in an industry that has more unnamed sources than this one.”

While not directly addressing the PIF rumours, O’Neil, who took over as the league's CEO from Greg Norman in early 2025, dismissed suggestions that LIV Golf is at risk of folding, describing such claims as exaggerated.

“Having been in private equity now for over a dozen years, this is the process you go through. Sometimes it’s not smooth, and sometimes it’s not easy,” he said.

“But given the momentum of this business, we’re really excited about where we are.”

O’Neil also pushed back against speculation surrounding behind-the-scenes developments, labelling some reports as “reaching and grabbing for headlines”.

“For us, it’s business as usual,” he added. “Is this business tough? Absolutely. Is it challenging? Absolutely. But we’re tightly managed.”

Watch O'Neil's latest interview here:

Despite ongoing criticism of LIV Golf within the sport, O’Neil argued that its presence continues to benefit the wider golf ecosystem.

“Competition is good for business,” he said. “If you’re a player, a broadcaster, or a fan, there’s more to gain with LIV Golf here than gone.”

He also confirmed that internal planning remains focused on growth, including potential structural changes and the continued development of the league’s team model.

“We have a plan, and there are structural changes coming,” O’Neil said. 

“This notion of bringing teams to market is something we’re actively working on.”

For now, Rahm’s relaxed stance reflects a wider message from LIV Golf leadership: despite the noise, the league is pressing ahead as planned — even as questions over its financial future refuse to go away.