Jon Rahm’s Victory in Mexico Amid LIV’s Uncertain Future
Jon Rahm dominated the golf course in Mexico, securing a significant victory that showcased his talent and resilience. However, this triumph was overshadowed by a week filled with uncertainty and questions about the future of the LIV Tour.
Rahm stood on the 18th green in disbelief after his win. Just a week prior, he left Augusta National National Golf Club disappointed following another major performance that didn’t meet expectations. Despite this, Rahm managed to run away from the field at LIV Mexico City, claiming his second title of the season. On paper, it should have been a straightforward week for one of the league’s marquee stars. A five-event stretch that has seen Rahm win twice, Bryson DeChambeau claim two titles, and Anthony Kim achieve a remarkable comeback win is as good as LIV could have hoped for to start 2026. Yet, Rahm’s performance was far from the focus during the week, as bigger questions loomed over the Saudi-backed league.
The Financial Struggles of LIV
On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) is planning to stop funding the rebel league. While the PIF has a value of around $925 billion, reports suggest that the Iran War and Middle East conflict have impacted the fund’s budget. Saudi Arabia was already planning to reprioritize spending away from certain projects, like The Line, part of the Neom giga-project, and toward more sustainable efforts. Reports of the PIF abandoning LIV dropped on the same day the PIF unveiled a new five-year strategy focusing on the domestic economy to diversify its reliance on oil. The PIF stated it plans to transition from “a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation.”
At the same time, The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reported that LIV officials had been summoned to New York City for an emergency meeting. As all this unfolded, LIV was preparing for a tournament in Mexico City. On Tuesday, press conferences were canceled due to what was described as a power outage. On Wednesday, Sergio Garcia and the Fireballs took the mic, and the 2017 Masters champion said that LIV players had not been informed of any change.
LIV’s Response to the Rumors
That same day, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil sent an email to his staff stating that the league would continue “full throttle” in 2026 without mentioning any plans for the future. He emphasized that the season would continue exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle. While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, O’Neil noted that their reality is defined by the work they do on the grass.
LIV’s coverage of the first round opened with commentators Arlo White and David Feherty brushing aside the reports that LIV’s funding was being pulled. Feherty remarked that some writers and broadcasters take pride in their work, but this generation has spawned a bunch of fast typists who consider themselves experts. White chimed in, saying it must be exhausting trying to will the LIV League out of existence.
O’Neil later joined the coverage and expressed excitement about the future of LIV, without addressing whether or not the PIF would be withdrawing its backing. He mentioned that while raising money is necessary, if they keep the trajectory going, it will be a good business for a long time.
According to business filings reviewed by The Athletic, LIV Ltd, the U.K.-based entity managing the league’s activities outside the U.S., lost $590.1 million in 2024 and has lost $1.4 billion since 2022. O’Neil told The Financial Times in February that he didn’t see LIV turning a profit in the next five, or maybe even 10 years.
Despite these challenges, LIV has continued with a steady stream of capital from the PIF, which reportedly will be turned off after the 2026 season. If the PIF pulls out, the rebel league will need to find new investors to stay operational beyond this season. They could try to sell stakes in franchises or partner with another tour.
The Players’ Perspectives
In the wake of a wave of reports that LIV is on unstable ground, O’Neil’s message was that things at LIV are full steam ahead in 2026 and beyond. But in a later interview, he walked back comments about LIV’s future, noting that only 2026 is guaranteed. He mentioned that the reality is you’re funded through the season and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep them going.
As for LIV’s stars, there was no cohesive messaging about what the future entails for LIV. Bryson DeChambeau did not talk with the media this week before withdrawing due to a wrist injury ahead of Sunday’s final round, nor did Dustin Johnson. Phil Mickelson wasn’t in Mexico as he takes an extended break for personal reasons. That left Rahm as the only player asked about the question that hovered over LIV’s sixth event in 2026.
While the noise this week overshadowed the tournament, Rahm maintained that he didn’t pay the rumors of LIV’s demise any mind as he was preparing for the tournament. He stated that until the people in charge told him whether the rumors were true or not, it didn’t make sense to think about it or waste time thinking about it.
The Final Moments
As Rahm blitzed the field on Sunday, the LIV broadcast flashed an ad for the league’s return to Mexico City in 2027, prompting Feherty to jab at the reports from early in the week once again. He remarked that it’s really amazing considering just a few days ago they had to announce they were returning this week. It was another odd moment in a hectic week for the rebel league that ended with no answers.
Rahm wound up beating David Puig by six shots. He said he found something on Sunday at the Masters, and his game is now in a better spot. He stood on the 18th green with his Legion XIII teammates, celebrating a team victory. Afterward, Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, and Caleb Surratt all faced questions about their team’s third consecutive win in Mexico.
McKibbin said that “four in a row sounds even better,” alluding to the planned return in 2027. But that, like everything this week at LIV Mexico City, lacked clarity and certainty.
LIV will head to Virginia next in a few weeks. Then, its best players will head to the PGA Championship at Aronimink. Seven events will remain in the season after that, and then LIV’s uncertain future should, eventually, come into view.
