LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are facing fresh legal pressure after a new lawsuit was filed by the Premier Golf League (PGL), the proposed breakaway circuit widely viewed as LIV’s predecessor.

Court documents submitted to the London Commercial Court on Thursday 16 April show that the Premier Golf League and its parent company, World Golf Group Limited, have launched legal action against multiple defendants. Those named include the Public Investment Fund, Golf Saudi, various LIV Golf entities, and two individuals.

At the centre of the case is a dispute over the origins of LIV Golf. The Premier Golf League claims it had been in discussions with Saudi investors as early as 2019, when it first introduced its concept for a global team-based circuit designed to rival the traditional PGA Tour model.

According to the filing, those talks ultimately failed to produce an agreement. However, the lawsuit alleges that Golf Saudi later backed a separate venture in 2020 — a project that evolved into LIV Golf, which officially launched in October 2021.

The PGL argues that elements of its original concept were effectively used in the creation of LIV Golf, bringing renewed attention to the early development of one of the sport’s most disruptive leagues.

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The legal challenge comes at a time of growing uncertainty around LIV Golf’s long-term future. 

Multiple reports this week suggest the Public Investment Fund is considering cutting its financial backing of the circuit, fuelling speculation about the league’s long-term stability.

But despite widespread rumours, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has insisted the 2026 season will proceed as planned, pushing back against what he described as speculative reporting.

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Speaking during coverage of LIV Golf Mexico City on Thursday, O’Neil, who took over as the league’s CEO from Greg Norman in early 2025, has criticised sections of the media for relying on unnamed sources and dismissed some of the claims as exaggerated attempts to generate headlines.

Players have also attempted to downplay concerns. Jon Rahm, speaking ahead of this week’s event in Mexico City — the sixth stop of LIV’s 14-event 2026 schedule — brushed off suggestions of uncertainty surrounding the league.

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Despite those reassurances, the combination of legal action and ongoing speculation ensures that LIV Golf remains under intense scrutiny at a critical stage in its development.

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