Rahm's Dominant Win Overshadowed by Uncertainty Over LIV Golf's Financial Future

Jon Rahm's dominant six-stroke victory at LIV Golf Mexico City was completely overshadowed by a chaotic week that raised serious questions about the league's financial future and survival.

Saudi Funding Crisis Emerges

Wednesday brought bombshell reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was considering withdrawing funding from LIV Golf. Despite the PIF's massive $925 billion value, Middle East conflicts have forced strategic reassessment, with the fund announcing plans to increase domestic investments to 80% while cutting international investments from 30% to 20%.

The same day, PIF sold a 70% stake in soccer club Al Hilal, while reports emerged of LIV executives being summoned to emergency meetings in New York.

Tournament Operations in Chaos

The Mexico City event was plagued with issues. Tuesday's press conferences were cancelled due to power outages, and Thursday's broadcast suffered a two-hour blackout. While Sergio Garcia insisted players had only heard positive messages from PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan about long-term commitment, concrete information remained scarce.

Commentators David Feherty and Arlo White attempted damage control, dismissing critics as "fast typists" rather than experts, but the league's defensive posture was telling.

Financial Reality Check

Business filings revealed LIV Golf Ltd. lost over $590 million in 2024, with cumulative losses reaching $1.4 billion since 2022. CEO Scott O'Neil had previously acknowledged profitability wouldn't come for 5-10 years, stating "that's not different from any other private equity-funded business."

Rahm's Professional Focus

Amid the chaos, Rahm maintained focus, deliberately ignoring the reports until official word came from leadership. His six-stroke victory over David Puig marked his second win of 2026, while his Legion XIII team secured their third consecutive Mexico triumph.

The contrast between on-course success and off-course uncertainty perfectly encapsulated LIV Golf's current predicament.