Brooks Koepka has issued a heartfelt response to mounting speculation surrounding LIV Golf’s financial future, admitting he “hopes everybody is okay” as uncertainty grows over the league’s long-term backing.
Reports this past week have suggested the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf’s primary financial backer since its launch in 2022, is on the verge of withdrawing funding past this season. The rumours have cast doubt over the league’s sustainability despite recent claims of strong commercial growth.
Koepka, who left LIV Golf at the end of 2025 to rejoin the PGA Tour, was asked about the situation ahead of this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the sole official team event of the PGA Tour season.
While distancing himself from inside knowledge, the five-time major champion revealed he has checked in with former colleagues during the ongoing speculation.
“Yeah, I’m not there, so I can’t speak for anything they’re doing. I’ve talked to a few guys just through text, but that’s it. Everybody seems — as long as everybody is okay, we’re okay,” Koepka told reporters at TPC Louisiana.
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Koepka spent four seasons on LIV Golf, winning five individual titles and captaining Smash GC before departing. The team has since rebranded to OKGC this week under its new captain Talor Gooch.
Despite uncertainty, signs from within LIV Golf suggest operations continue as normal. Players and staff are reportedly proceeding with business as usual, while recent communications from leadership have aimed to calm concerns.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil circulated a memo to players last week confirming the 2026 season will continue as planned. He also insisted the league is in its strongest position yet midway through its fifth campaign.
Financially, LIV Golf has shown notable growth. Revenue is believed to have doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year, with more than $100 million already generated during the early part of the 2026 season. Franchise profitability is also reportedly improving, with several teams and events now operating in the black, and ticket sales have also risen significantly year-on-year.
However, questions remain over the league’s long-term model. Concerns persist around its reliance on a single funding source, as well as the balance between team branding and traditional competitive structures.
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Jon Rahm
The PIF is estimated to have invested around $5 billion into LIV Golf since its inception, underpinning its $30 million tournament purses in 2026.
Should that support be withdrawn, industry figures continue to question how the league would maintain its current scale.
Bryson DeChambeau has since come out firing in an interview with Flushing It though, confirming he remains in talks to extend his contract on LIV Golf, no matter what happens. DeChambeau admits he remains fully focused on his Crushers GC franchise and helping the league grow at large.
“As long as LIV is here, I would figure out a way for it to make sense,” said DeChambeau.
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Koepka, meanwhile, has shifted focus back to the PGA Tour, making his return earlier this season through the circuit’s newly introduced ‘Returning Membership’ program under CEO Brian Rolapp.
Notably, Koepka was the only eligible LIV player to accept the offer by the 1 February deadline, with DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith all opting to remain with LIV Golf.
Brooks Koepka
This week in New Orleans, Koepka teams up with Shane Lowry at TPC Louisiana, replacing Rory McIlroy in the Irishman’s regular partnership.
Lowry won the Zurich Classic alongside McIlroy in 2024, and they finished tied 12th in 2025.
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McIlroy has chosen to skip this week’s team event as he manages his schedule following his successful Masters title defence earlier this month.
Lowry, who was sat next to Koepka in their press conference today, explained how his unexpected partnership with Koepka came together.
“Yeah, we were at Grove. I said to him, I might need a partner for New Orleans. He goes, Well, I’m going to have to play there. That was kind of it,” said Lowry.
“Then I text Ricky [Elliott; Koepka’s caddie] a few weeks later, and then I sent it to Brooks.
“I didn’t see Brooks for another while because we were playing a bit of a different schedule. Then I said to him, Are we going to tee it up in New Orleans? He said, Yeah, let’s do it.
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“So we’re here. To the outside it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does. I think the ball, everything about it, you know, we do have a good relationship. We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there.”
The pairing of Koepka and Lowry appears a natural fit, with both players sharing strong ties in Jupiter, Florida.
They also use a similar model of Srixon Z-STAR golf ball, which will likely prove vital for the alternate-shot foursomes on Friday and Sunday.
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Koepka added of his relationship with Lowry: “We see each other — I think a lot of people forget that we all live probably within 15 minutes of each other in Jupiter, and everybody plays the same golf courses, so we see each other pretty much every other day.
“I mean, I don’t go a day without seeing a guy out here, so there’s always conversations. There’s always people talking, having lunch, doing whatever, practicing together. It happens way more frequently than I think people realize.”
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Koepka and Lowry start the week as narrow tournament favourites at odds of 11/1.
The Fitzpatrick brothers in Matt and Alex are the next on the list, with both Englishmen arriving off the back of wins on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Other notable team pairings include rising stars Michael Thorbjornsen and Karl Vilips, English duo Marco Penge and Matt Wallace, and Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat.
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