The ground is shifting beneath the controversial LIV Golf tour, and the tremors are being felt directly at Donald Trump's doorstep. Explosive new reports suggest the Saudi-backed golf venture is on the brink of collapse, a development that spells bad news for the former president, who has become one of LIV's most prominent and profitable partners.
The Funding Fountain Runs Dry
According to industry insiders, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is preparing to pull the plug on its massive financial backing of LIV Golf. This isn't about poor ticket sales or lack of star power—this is a seismic, top-down strategic shift driven by the kingdom's evolving geopolitical priorities. Sources indicate the league, which was fully funded through 2030, is now preparing to wind down operations, potentially as soon as after this week's event in Mexico City.
The news follows days of intense speculation, with golf journalist Ryan French teasing a "bombshell announcement" and former ESPN host Trey Wingo confirming the dire outlook. "MBS pulled the plug," Wingo stated, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump's Tangled Tee Times
This potential shutdown throws a massive wrench into Donald Trump's golf business. His properties, including Trump National Doral and Trump National Bedminster, have served as flagship venues for LIV events, providing the former president with significant revenue and a high-profile platform. A scheduled tournament at Bedminster from August 6-9 now hangs in the balance.
The irony isn't lost on commentators. Former ESPN analyst Pablo Torre noted, "Trump's war with Iran leading to the financial collapse of LIV Golf—months before Trump could host this year's LIV event at his own course in Bedminster—might be the thing that convinces him that this war was, uh, a bad idea." This development follows other controversies involving Trump's properties, such as the Trump Administration's Golf Course Grab Sparks D.C. Backlash.
A Merger Dream Fades
Beyond the immediate hosting fees, the collapse dashes Trump's publicly stated ambition to broker peace—and a merger—between LIV and the PGA Tour. Just last April, Trump positioned himself as a dealmaker, telling reporters, "Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That'll be good. I'm involved in that, too... I think having them merge would be a great thing."
With LIV potentially dissolving, that dream of unification appears dead. Instead, the golf world is now buzzing about the potential return of defectors like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm to the PGA Tour fold, a scenario that seemed impossible just months ago. The entire saga has been marked by frantic behind-the-scenes maneuvering, as detailed in our previous report, LIV Golf Execs Rush to Emergency Summit as Shutdown Rumors Explode.
What Comes Next?
The implications are vast. For players who took nine-figure checks to join the rebel tour, the future is suddenly uncertain. For the PGA Tour, which has been locked in tense merger talks with the PIF, the negotiating landscape has been upended overnight. And for Donald Trump, a lucrative business arrangement and a stage for political visibility is evaporating.
This story is developing rapidly, and the coming days will be critical. Will LIV stage a last-minute save, or will this weekend's event in Mexico be its last stand? The answer will determine not just the future of professional golf, but the fate of a high-stakes partnership that blended sports, politics, and billions of dollars. For more on the initial rumors that sparked this crisis, see LIV Golf on Life Support? Shocking Rumors of Imminent Shutdown Surface.
