LIV Golf players seek DP World Tour refuge as Saudi funding nears end

Key facts

• Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund plans to end LIV Golf funding after the 2026 season.
• Roughly $5 billion has been invested in LIV Golf since 2022.
• Eight LIV players, excluding Jon Rahm, have a deal to play on the DP World Tour without releases or fines.
• LIV's New Orleans event in June has been rescheduled pending financial restructuring.
• DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings said the tour is 'reading the headlines and observing'.
• PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated the tour will 'react when we have an opportunity to react'.
• HCLTech has been named the Official Digital Experience Partner of the DP World Tour in a multi-year deal.
• The DP World Tour features players from 46 nationalities and operates across five continents.

LIV Golf's uncertain future drives players to European circuit

As the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league faces the prospect of losing its financial lifeline, several of its players are quietly exploring a return to the DP World Tour, the main men's professional golf tour of on April 29 that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) plans to end its backing after the 2026 season, a development that has sent shockwaves through the sport. numerous unnamed LIV Golf members have already contacted the DP World Tour to inquire about their eligibility to play on the European circuit. The DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour, has an alliance with the PGA Tour and operates across five continents, offering a season-long schedule culminating in the Race to Dubai.

DP World Tour adopts wait-and-see approach amid player inquiries

DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings acknowledged the inquiries but stressed the tour's focus on its own product. "We're reading the headlines and observing," Kinnings told Today's Golfer. "We've got members and dual members [of the DPWT and LIV] and we listen to them. Those kind of headlines that we've seen in the last few weeks have got to be concerning for them. But all we do is control what we can control, make sure our product is as good as it can be." Kinnings added that the tour listens to players and their representatives regularly. "At the moment, our focus is just on us doing what we can do," he said. The DP World Tour has already reached a deal with eight LIV players—though notably not Jon Rahm—allowing them to compete on the European circuit this year without releases or fines.

PIF withdrawal and Louisiana cancellation signal LIV's decline

The PIF's decision to end funding follows the cancellation of LIV's expected tournament in New Orleans, which was set for June. The state of Louisiana announced the event would no longer happen, and reports indicate it has been rescheduled until the league restructures financially. The PIF has invested roughly $5 billion in LIV since its inception in 2022. LIV CEO Scott O'Neil, in an interview with TNT Sports at LIV Golf Mexico City two weeks ago, said, "The reality is you're funded through the season and then you work like crazy to create a business and a business plan to keep us going. But that's not different than any other private equity business in the history of mankind." However, that portion of the interview was later removed from TNT's platforms.

PGA Tour keeps door ajar for returning defectors

The PGA Tour has already taken steps to reintegrate some LIV players. Brooks Koepka returned under the Returning Member Program, though that offer was only extended to Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith and expired in February. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp indicated the tour may revisit options if LIV's future remains in doubt. "We'll react when we have an opportunity to react, but right now, we're focused on making the PGA Tour better," Rolapp told Pat McAfee last week. "But listen, I've said it publicly and I'll say it again: I'm interested in whatever makes the PGA Tour better. That's what my job is. That's what I'm interested in doing. That has no limit."

DP World Tour secures HCLTech as digital partner amid transformation

On the eve of the Turkish Airlines Open, the DP World Tour announced a multi-year partnership with HCLTech, naming the Indian tech giant as its Official Digital Experience Partner. HCLTech will lead a major transformation of the tour's global digital ecosystem, focusing on delivering more engaging, data-driven, and personalized experiences for fans. Jill Kouri, Chief Marketing Officer at HCLTech, said the partnership represents both a technology transformation and a global branding opportunity. "We're excited to support a digital transformation programme that makes it easier for fans to discover, analyse and share the moments that matter," she said. DP World Tour Chief Technology Officer Michael Cole added that HCLTech was selected for its ability to deliver large-scale, always-on digital platforms.

Turkish Airlines Open underway with LIV star in field

The DP World Tour's Turkish Airlines Open began Thursday at the National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya. Gregorio De Leo holds a one-shot lead heading into the weekend, with a host of fellow first-time DP World Tour winners in pursuit. LIV Golf star David Puig headlines the field as he seeks a second title of the season. The tournament is part of the DP World Tour's five "swings"—Opening, International, Asian, European, and Closing—before the "Back 9" and the playoffs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. All competitions, including the four major championships, count toward the Race to Dubai Rankings.

What lies ahead for golf's fractured landscape

The potential collapse of LIV Golf could reshape professional golf, with players, tours, and sponsors all recalibrating. The DP World Tour, with its global reach and new digital partnership, positions itself as a stable alternative. However, the PGA Tour's willingness to readmit defectors remains conditional, and the DP World Tour's own stance is cautious. As Guy Kinnings put it, the tour controls what it can control. The coming months will reveal whether LIV's players find a soft landing or face a fragmented path back to the established order. For now, the DP World Tour continues its season, with the Turkish Airlines Open providing a snapshot of the talent that may soon swell its ranks.

The bottom line

• LIV Golf's future is in doubt after the PIF announced plans to end funding post-2026, with $5 billion already invested.
• Several LIV players have approached the DP World Tour about playing eligibility, but the tour is taking a wait-and-see approach.
• Eight LIV players, excluding Jon Rahm, already have a deal to play on the DP World Tour without penalties.
• The PGA Tour has not ruled out reintegrating LIV defectors, though a previous offer expired in February.
• The DP World Tour is investing in digital transformation through a partnership with HCLTech to enhance fan experience.
• The Turkish Airlines Open is underway, with LIV's David Puig in the field and Gregorio De Leo leading after the first round.