LIV Golf is financing a bleak future after losing funding from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which could ultimately force many of the golfers associated with it to make big decisions. The professional golf tour is one that many golfers initially joined as an alternative to the PGA Tour.
However, some LIV golfers have continued to participate in other major events, such as last month's The Masters. Bryson DeChambeau was one of the 10 LIV golfers who played in the annual event, but didn't make the cut and had the weekend off. PGA superstar Rory McIlroy went on to claim his second consecutive Green Jacket at Augusta National. With LIV Golf in jeopardy, DeChambeau recently shared what he would do if LIV were unable to secure additional funding and was forced to fold due to financial issues.
More news: Jon Rahm Announces Major News Amid Ryder Cup Uncertainty "I think, from my perspective, I'd love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more," he said, per ESPN, adding, "I'd love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I'd love to play tournaments that want me." However, there could be financial and eligibility penalties facing DeChambeau and others who want to return to the PGA Tour. Reportedly, that could be massive, historic fines, and ineligibility or restrictions for various PGA signature events. Brooks Koepka faced such issues when returning to the PGA Tour from LIV last year.
According to Golf.com, he forfeited FedEx Cup bonus limitations and Tour equity restrictions. Along with that, PGATour.com reported he had to make a $5 million charitable donation. After joining in 2022, Koepka won five individual LIV Golf events. He also holds nine PGA Tour wins, including a combined five major victories in the PGA Championship and U.S.
Open. DeChambeau has won the latter event twice in his career and, as of last month, ranked fifth on the career LIV Golf earnings list. The captain of the Crushers GC team joined LIV in June 2022 and has been strongly committed to helping it achieve success. Regarding potential financial repercussions and penalties if he rejoined the PGA Tour, he called it "quite unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could do for them." However, DeChambeau also suggested that the "PGA isn't doing great either" and only has the media helping "pump it up" amid "reducing field sizes, cutting employees, and restructuring their business too." That said, they also realize they hold the leverage, as many players made a business decision to leave the PGA Tour in search of guaranteed financial security, which is now at risk of disappearing completely.
More news: LIV Golfer Amid Rumors: ‘I’m Definitely Never Going Back to the PGA Tour’ For more about professional golf, visit Newsweek Sports.
