Scott O'Neil confirmed on Thursday that LIV Golf is funded through this season.

He made it clear the season will continue but did not commit to anything beyond that. During TNT Sports' broadcast from LIV Golf Mexico City, the CEO openly addressed the league's financial situation.

"The reality is that you're funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business plan to keep us going," O'Neil said.

"But that's not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of mankind."

That was a significant admission amid reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may step away. PIF has invested over $5 billion since 2022, and its new five-year plan omitted LIV Golf, raising concerns. The Telegraph also reported an emergency board meeting in New York.

O'Neil had already tried to calm concerns on Wednesday. An email to staff, obtained by ESPN, stated the season would continue "uninterrupted and at full throttle." Thursday felt different, as he addressed the situation on camera.

He also spoke about Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract is nearing its end.

"It's Bryson, I'm with him way more than my own family," O'Neil said. "There's nobody more passionate about team golf and growing the game than Bryson. I'm confident we'll find a solution."

Scott O'Neil has Blueprint for LIV Golf's Next Chapter

O'Neil did not only speak about survival but also outlined what growth could look like.

"It's World Cup style, you'll have international players, and you can bet on young talent," he said, mentioning names like Tom McKibbin, La Sasso, Josele Ballester, Surratt, and Puig as players he is watching.

LIV Golf still faces growth challenges, including low U.S. popularity, weak TV ratings, limited revenue from The CW and Fox Sports deals, difficulty securing top courses, and player concerns about major tournament readiness.

The league did secure a significant win earlier this year. In February, O'Neil played a role in securing LIV Golf’s inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking, allowing points to be awarded to top-10 finishers. It was a battle the league had been fighting since 2022.

The prize money is around $30 million this season. The upcoming event at Trump National will test the league's momentum as the season progresses toward an uncertain offseason.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav