LIV Golf Files for Bankruptcy as Saudi-Backed Tour Collapses

LIV Golf, the controversial Saudi Arabia-backed professional golf tour, has filed for bankruptcy, marking the dramatic collapse of a venture that had promised to reshape professional golf with enormous prize pools and controversial player recruitment.

The tour, which was launched in 2022 with backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), attracted marquee names in professional golf with record-breaking appearance fees and prize money. However, it struggled to build a sustainable commercial model, failing to secure major broadcast rights deals and facing ongoing tensions with the PGA Tour.

The bankruptcy filing ends what was a turbulent chapter in professional golf, during which LIV attracted significant controversy for its Saudi government connections amid human rights concerns. Many of the players who joined LIV Golf now face uncertainty about their professional future and PGA Tour reinstatement status.

The collapse leaves a complex landscape for professional golf as the PGA Tour and DP World Tour move to consolidate their positions as the dominant tours in the sport.