{"id":607763,"date":"2026-04-16T10:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T10:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/607763\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T10:18:12","slug":"chiefs-defiant-as-rumors-of-liv-golfs-demise-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/607763\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs defiant as rumors of LIV Golf’s demise continue"},"content":{"rendered":"

The build-up to the post-Masters tournament at the Club de Golf Chapultepec, the sixth on LIV\u2019s 2026 schedule<\/a>, has been shrouded by rife speculation the entire league is about to be shut down.<\/p>\n

Journalist Ryan French, of Monday Q Info<\/a>, set his 200,000 social media followers alight on Tuesday by claiming that LIV could cease operations and even this Mexico showpiece could be cancelled. Arguably the league\u2019s biggest name alongside Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, was expected to speak with journalists in Mexico on Tuesday, but his press conference at the $30 million event did not go ahead because of technical troubles in the media center.<\/p>\n

However, one player who has landed in Mexico has told TG they have not been given any information as it relates to the now intense speculation. On Wednesday, they were preparing to tee up in that afternoon\u2019s pro-am, stating: \u201cIt\u2019s all normal here.\u201d <\/p>\n

Sergio Garcia led a Fireballs GC press conference on Wednesday, where he was asked about the rumors. \u201cNo, sincerely, we have not heard anything yet,\u201d he said, translated from his native Spanish. We have not heard anything. That is not what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf chairman] told us at the beginning of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sergio was in fact asked about the rumors. \u201cWe have not heard anything \u2026 That is not what Yasir told us at the beginning of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/apyozwWR6l<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) April 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The league has also released tee times for Thursday\u2019s action<\/a>, so the expectation is that the tournament will go ahead as planned. TG has also learned that upcoming LIV venues in 2026 have not been informed of any change to their schedule.<\/p>\n

The Wall Street Journal<\/a> claimed LIV Golf is facing \u201cimminent closure\u201d, while the Financial Times<\/a> said Saudi Arabia\u2019s \u201cis on the verge of cutting support for LIV Golf\u201d but added that \u201cno final decision has been made\u201d. The New York Times<\/a> reported that \u201chigh level LIV executives\u201d were informed on Monday that they would \u201close their positions\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Golf Channel\u2019s Rex Hoggard<\/a> also reported that he had spoken to \u201cplayers and vendors who haven\u2019t gotten paid by LIV Golf in the last few weeks\u201d and the Telegraph<\/a> revealed that LIV staff had been invited by CEO Scott O\u2019Neil to an \u201cemergency summit\u201d in its New York office.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, O\u2019Neil sent a memo of defiance to staff that read: \u201cI want to be crystal clear: our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe life of a startup movement is often defined by these moments of pressure. We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have headwinds since the jump, and we\u2019ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the statement, O\u2019Neil signs off: \u201cIt matters. You mattered. Now let\u2019s go win.\u201d <\/p>\n

Several LIV Golf executives were present at last week\u2019s Masters \u2013 gathered underneath the Big Oak Tree<\/a>, the famous spot where deals often get thrashed out at Augusta National \u2013 and it\u2019s understood O\u2019Neil, was insisting that LIV was funded until 2032.<\/p>\n

The PIF has so far spent almost $6 billion on LIV Golf, including more than $1bn in prize money<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TG has reached out to several other LIV executives and players about this story.<\/p>\n