“If I’m a PGA Tour player, I want LIV to survive...” claims Scott O'Neil in new interview

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has moved to steady the narrative around the league amid a week of renewed speculation over its long-term financial backing, insisting the circuit remains focused on continuity during the opening round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec.

O’Neil’s latest comments came during the first-round broadcast, where he was interviewed by host Arlo White against the backdrop of widespread reporting suggesting Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf’s bankroller, could soon end its financial support beyond the 2026 season.

The claims, first highlighted by golf journalist Ryan French and later reported by outlets including the Financial Times and Fox News, have intensified scrutiny of LIV Golf’s future just four years after its launch in 2022 and midway through its fifth season.

While LIV Golf has not formally addressed the speculation, O’Neil used his latest on-screen interview to push back on the tone of media coverage and what he described as a reliance on unnamed sources.

“I’m disappointed with some of the coverage,” O’Neil told White. 

“I've never been in an industry that has more unnamed sources than this one. In fact I was reading through some coverage this morning and I couldn't find one source on the record in all the articles that were written. I would just say, let's be responsible.”

When pressed directly on suggestions that LIV Golf could be in danger of folding, O’Neil dismissed the claims as exaggerated and rooted in speculation.

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

“But I can tell you, given the momentum of this business, we’re really excited about where we are and the position where we are.

“This notion of secret meetings, and getting summoned to New York — I live in New York, so it’s easy to summon myself there.

“But it’s a lot of reaching and grabbing for headlines and clickbait and stories.

“For us, it’s business as usual. But if you want to ask me if this business is tough, I would say, ‘absolutely’. If you ask me if we’re managed very, very tightly, I would say, ‘absolutely’. Can this be challenging? ‘Absolutely’.”

White then raised the perception of ongoing criticism directed at LIV Golf and questioned why scepticism about the league continues. 

O’Neil downplayed the external noise, suggesting there is broad interest across the sport in the league’s continued existence.

“If I’m a PGA Tour player, I want LIV to survive. These prize purses are pretty good,” he said. 

“Competition is good for business. If I’m a television network, I’d love LIV Golf to survive. It’s good television. If I’m a reporter, it certainly makes the news a little more spicy. If you’re a fan, you want more golf around the world. There is a lot more to gain with LIV Golf here than LIV Golf gone.”

Scroll down to watch the full interview...

O’Neil then reiterated that LIV’s internal planning and messaging remain centred on stability and long-term development. 

He also pointed to recent communications sent to players and staff confirming that the 2026 season is scheduled to proceed as planned, despite ongoing external speculation.

“How we go forward is what I’m really excited about,” O'Neil told White. 

“We have a plan, and there are structural changes coming. This notion of bringing teams to market is something we’re actively working on.”

Pressed on how he would continue to position LIV Golf to PGA Tour players and rising stars in the game, O’Neil maintained that interest in the league remains strong.

“Most of them call us, quite frankly,” he said. 

“LIV Golf is not for everybody. But if you want to grow the game globally, experience new cultures and be part of a team environment, this is for you.”

He also highlighted LIV’s commercial strength and global reach, pointing to sponsorship deals and international audiences as evidence of progress.

“We are now in a billion homes around the world,” O’Neil said. 

“From a business standpoint, we had almost half a billion dollars in sponsorship last year with global brands. We are in a very strong position.”

Watch O'Neil's comments in full here:

LIV Golf’s coverage of the opening round in Mexico City was disrupted by technical issues during the first half of the broadcast, with a local power outage impacting production and limiting live transmission early in the day. 

Coverage was restored later in the round as conditions stabilised.

On the course, Victor Perez delivered the standout performance of the opening round, firing a stunning nine-under-par 62 to take the solo lead at LIV Golf Mexico City.

The Frenchman, one of LIV Golf’s newest additions ahead of the 2026 season, has opened up a three-shot lead on tournament favourite Jon Rahm.

Check out all the latest scores here