Story perspectives

Saudi Fund Ends $5B LIV Golf Sponsorship After Season

4/30/2026

Summary

PIF Ends LIV

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will stop funding LIV Golf after this season.
The fund had spent about $5 billion on the league in four years despite low attendance and weak TV viewership.
The fund’s new domestic focus and the U.S.–Iran war reduced LIV Golf’s priority.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau face professional limbo as PGA Tour chief Brian Rolapp warned that rules were broken.

Summary

Sony Broadcasts LIV

Sony Pictures Networks India will broadcast the 2026 LIV Golf League across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives.
The tournament will air on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV OTT, covering all 14 events in 10 countries.
Örjan Olsson said the deal expands reach, brand visibility and long-term positioning.
Rajesh Kaul highlighted the shotgun-start format and a four-to-five-hour broadcast window for more live action.

History

Historical Context

In 2006 the PGA Tour launched the FedEx Cup, a season-long points race funded by FedEx’s $10 million prize pool, reshaping tour earnings. The move followed a decade of expanding TV deals, from Sky Sports’ UK rights to Discovery’s 12-year $2 billion international contract beginning in 2019, illustrating how corporate sponsorship and media rights now drive golf’s financial model.

1 of 3

PIF Ends LIV

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will stop funding LIV Golf after this season.
The fund had spent about $5 billion on the league in four years despite low attendance and weak TV viewership.
The fund’s new domestic focus and the U.S.–Iran war reduced LIV Golf’s priority.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau face professional limbo as PGA Tour chief Brian Rolapp warned that rules were broken.

1 / 3