Report: Head of LIV Golf Yasir Al-Rumayyan is stepping down as league's future in doubt
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the architect of LIV Golf, is reportedly stepping down from his position as chairman of the LIV board
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the architect of LIV Golf, is stepping down from his position as chairman of the LIV board, according to a report from Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal. The news comes in the wake of reports that the PIF is pulling its financial backing of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. The Wall Street Journal reports LIV staff will officially be informed by LIV CEO Scott O’Neil of the decision on Thursday, while the Telegraph reports that several LIV players were notified on Wednesday.
Al-Rumayyan’s departure closes a nearly five-year run atop a league he originated. LIV Golf was an offshoot of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030—a blueprint to diminish the country’s reliance on oil by diversifying the economy and modernizing its public services. Al-Rumayyan, part of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's inner circle, wanted to grow golf participation in Saudi Arabia and develop a national team and elite players, along with big-picture items, such as developing courses to aid tourism and hosting professional competitions.
He began hosting the Saudi International on the DP World Tour in 2019, but Golf Saudi's larger attempts to enter the golf’s ecosystem were rebuffed. The DP World Tour turned down a larger sponsorship proposal, and the PGA Tour refused to listen to various business overtures. After initially providing backing to the proposed Premier Golf League, Golf Saudi spun out its own league, LIV Golf, a breakaway tour built on shotgun starts, team franchises, music on the course and nine-figure signing bonuses.
The first LIV event was held at Centurion Club in England in June 2022. By the end of that summer, the league had signed Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio García, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith. At the opening event, Al-Rumayyan made news when he said he would pay a $54 million bonus to any player who shot a 54 at a LIV event.
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