In a statement released on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said the “substantial” financial outlay required for LIV is “no longer consistent with the current phase” of their strategy.
LIV has now announced a “strategic evolution” which includes a newly appointed board led by advisors Gene Davis and Jon Zinman – both said to have “proven track records of navigating complex situations”. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who founded the league alongside former CEO Greg Norman, is set to exit the board, but his involvement went unmentioned on LIV’s press release revealing their plans.
PIF has bankrolled LIV to the tune of $5 billion since 2022 – putting up $30 million prize funds at each of its events this season. Their decision to retreat at the end of 2026 has plunged the league’s future into huge doubt, but several LIV executives have told TG that they remain “optimistic” they will be able to seek alternate funding to carry on in what they’re calling a “brave new world”.
Still, the uncertainty over a fraught past couple of weeks has caused some players to seek out the DP World Tour as they consider their options for the 2027. But Puig, who is a dual-member on both tours, has faith that the league can continue beyond this season without PIF’s billions.
“[The PIF withdrawal] is something that we know already,” he told TG after his first round at the Turkish Airlines Open. “It is what it is. I love Scott. He’s a great guy. He’s pretty straightforward, and he mentioned that. All together, we’re going to try and find a solution, and hopefully that pays off and we find something.
“Obviously I don’t really know what he deals with every day. I’m sure he’s got a lot of pressure [on] his shoulders and a lot of stuff going on but with me he’s been amazing. We play Padel together. He’s a great guy, and I really enjoy his time around him. That’s all I can say.
“We had a meeting in Mexico, but I know the same as you do right now. There’s nothing more we know. I’m just happy where I am and hopefully we can find a solution.”
Asked whether he believes LIV can find alternate investment, Puig replied: “Yeah, for sure.”
The 24-year-old skipped his senior season at Arizona State to join LIV in September 2022 and has won on the DP World and Asian Tours since turning professional as well as banking over $20 million in prize money. He is viewed by many as a European Ryder Cup player of the future.
“I’ve been loving my time on LIV,” Puig said. “Sergio [Garcia] has been great and I’m good friends with Jon [Rahm], so I enjoy the tournaments. So hopefully we find a solution. It’s definitely made me a better player. It’s not up to me at all what happens, but I I enjoy it and they’re doing the right things, and hopefully there’s a solution.”
Puig is playing here at the glorious National Golf Club after becoming one of eight players to sign a conditional release deal with the DP World Tour. In return for settling any outstanding fines and playing an additional number of stipulated events, the octet can play on the circuit without sanction. This is believed to be one of the stops earmarked for Puig to play.
“I just try and enjoy the present and right now I love it,” he says. “It gives me both opportunities, and I try and play as good as I can in both tours, and obviously we’ll see what happens. Again, it’s not up to me, but I have a great team around me, and that’s how I focus on it.”
Puig is one of three talented young LIV players in the field at the $2.75million event in Antalya, alongside Tom McKibbin and Elvis Smylie. The news has dominated conversations on the range, but he insists the LIV uncertainty has not been a distraction to his game.
“This week is important for many reasons – world rankings and Race to Dubai – I’m trying to focus on that more than the rest of the world.”