Brooks Koepka was the first of LIV Golf’s founding star cast to seek a return to the PGA Tour ranks. Image courtesy LIV Golf.
By Rahul Banerji
LIV Golf has formally made it known that the breakaway league is entering a phase of “strategic evolution” with the end of funding from Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund PIF next year.
Sports Business Journal also reported that PIF governor Nasir al Rumayyan would be stepping down from from his post as the influential chairman of LIV Golf.
In between, LIV postponed its event in New Orleans scheduled for June to the autumn though the international swing through South Korea, Spain and Britain will continue as planned.
Ahead of LIV’s Mexico City tournament mid-April, there was talk that the PIF-LIV Golf association would end immediately. That ended with an announcement the Saudi fund would continue its support till the end of the 2026 season.
On Thursday, the league named a new independent board that includes two corporate turnaround specialists who are expected to steer the league towards an independent financial model.
In a statement, LIV Golf said the appointments were aimed at “securing long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model”.
Seasoned experts
The new board would bring on board Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, both “seasoned experts with proven track records of navigating complex situations and unlocking value for global organizations, to guide the league through its next phase”.
“LIV Golf has built something truly differentiated – a global league with passionate fans, world-class talent, and demonstrated commercial momentum,” said Davis.
“… Jon and I see a clear opportunity to help the league formalise its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth while continuing to promote the game across the world.
“We look forward to positioning LIV Golf for future success.”
In the statement, LIV Golf claimed the 2026 season had shown “a 100% increase in revenue year over year”.
Davis is chairman and CEO of Pirinate Consulting Group which specialises in turnaround management, merger and acquisition consulting, restructuring, and strategic advisory services for public and private business entities.
Among the entities Davis has worked with in the past are Delta Airlines, Aero Mexico, Remington and Trump Resorts and is seen as a leading corporate governance and strategic advisory professional.
Co-board member Zinman is the founder and managing member of JZ Advisors which engages with companies in times of change with a focus on “maximising the company’s go-forward growth potential”.
Bigger question
Even as the commercial restructuring of LIV Golf nears, the bigger question is over its stable of players, particularly top draws Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract runs out this year, and Jon Rahm.
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed were the first prominent names to break ranks and seek a return to the legacy tours and reports suggest others have reached out as well, though what sort of a reaction that evokes will be interesting to see.
For the coming week though, the focus will at least partly be back on the golf with the next event scheduled to tee off on May 7 at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, DC.
Also read: PGA Tour, LIV Golf both face increasing bottom-line pressure
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