The $6B golf bet that crashed and burned: What really happened with LIV’s short-lived disaster

Nypost · 🇮🇷 public Iran · Apr 18, 2026 · 1420 words · By Gavin Newsham

The financial sustainability and future of LIV Golf The contrast between traditional PGA Tour values and LIV's disruptive model

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about The financial sustainability and future of LIV Golf

Fresh off a successful defense of his Masters title at Augusta National, the 36-year-old finds himself watching the long-running saga of LIV Golf edge toward what could be its final chapter.

Claims checked 26

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Fresh off a successful defense of his Masters title at Augusta National, the 36-year-old finds himself watching the long-running saga of LIV Golf edge toward what could be its final chapter.

Why it matters

For years, McIlroy has been one of the most vocal critics of LIV, repeatedly expressing his “hate” for the Saudi-backed breakaway tour that burst onto the scene promising to revolutionize the sport — and pay big bucks to golfers willing to leave the PGA tour…

Common ground

McIlroy became the face of the PGA in the conflict, giving regular interviews and verbally jousting with LIV pros and supporters in what he later conceded was an effort that took a tremendous personal and professional toll, saying he felt like a “sacrificial…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Selective Omission: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this The financial sustainability and future of LIV Golf story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Jon Rahm secured a deal reportedly worth $300 million, while Phil Mickelson — who once described his new backers as “scary motherf–kers” — was paid around $200 million despite being well into his fifties?
How does this story connect The financial sustainability and future of LIV Golf with The contrast between traditional PGA Tour values and LIV's disruptive model over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/18/sports/how-livs-6b-golf-bet-crashed-and-burned/

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Selective Omission 70% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 26 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 16

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 4

help Insufficient Evidence 2

help

Claim 1: “Jon Rahm secured a deal reportedly worth $300 million, while Phil Mickelson — who once described his new backers as “scary motherf–kers” — was paid around $200 million despite being well into his fifties.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from any source (cross-reference, web search, or Wikipedia) regarding specific contract values for Jon Rahm or Phil Mickelson.

check_circle

Claim 2: “For years, McIlroy has been one of the most vocal critics of LIV, repeatedly expressing his “hate” for the Saudi-backed breakaway tour that burst onto the scene promising to revolutionize the sport — and pay big bucks to golfers willing to leave the PGA tour for it.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Rory McIlroy has been a vocal critic of LIV Golf, describing it as a Saudi-backed breakaway league. Sources mention his criticism since its inception.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2022 United States Open Championship was the 122nd U.S. Open, the national open golf championship of the United States. It was a 72-hole stroke play tournament that was played between June 16–19 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_U.S._Open_(golf)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bryson James Aldrich DeChambeau ( də-sham-BOH; born September 16, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the LIV Golf League. He formerly played on the PGA Tour, and has won two major c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryson_DeChambeau

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and ha…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_McIlroy

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 3: “McIlroy became the face of the PGA in the conflict, giving regular interviews and verbally jousting with LIV pros and supporters in what he later conceded was an effort that took a tremendous personal and professional toll, saying he felt like a “sacrificial lamb.””

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence contains general information about McIlroy's career and LIV Golf, but the specific details regarding him conceding that his criticism took a 'tremendous personal and professional toll' and feeling like a 'sacrificial lamb' are not directly corroborated by the provided search snippets. The evidence is insufficient to confirm this specific personal reflection.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — TGL (TMRW Golf League) is a golf league created by TMRW Sports, a venture formed by sports executive Mike McCarley and professional golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in partnership with the PGA Tou…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGL_(golf_league)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tom McKibbin (born 19 December 2002) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on LIV Golf and the European Tour, where he has won once.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McKibbin_(golfer)

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “Indeed, of the 10 LIV players in the field, only England’s Tyrrell Hatton mounted a serious challenge, ultimately tying for third place.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed both made moves back toward traditional tours.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 6: “Reed, meanwhile, is working his way back via the DP World Tour and hopes to regain full PGA Tour status by 2027.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 7: “As reported by The Post’s Mark Cannizarro, more than $1.3 billion has been spent on contracts alone.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one web search result, from the New York Post, reports the figure of over $6 billion spent on LIV Golf since its 2021 launch. While other sources mention the $6B figure, they attribute it to different contexts or are less specific than this single citation.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Since it launched in 2021 under the slogan "Golf, But Louder," LIV Golf has been bankrolled to the tune of nearly $6 billion by Saudi Arabia's PIF.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/18/sports/how-livs-6b-golf-bet-cr…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The state's $1.5 billion annual plan for coastal restoration and protection cleared a key legislative committee on Wednesday after having been previously held up over advocates' concerns ...
https://issuu.com/capitalcitypress/docs/260416nom

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 2020 election saw more than $1 billion in dark money driven by an explosion of secret donations boosting Democrats.
https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2021/03/one-billion-dark-mo…

info

Claim 8: “Between 2022 and 2024 alone, LIV reportedly lost more than $1.1 billion.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one web search result provides a specific figure regarding LIV Golf's reported losses between 2022 and 2024, stating it was over $1.1 billion. No other sources corroborate this specific financial loss figure.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 9, 2026 · 和当时流行的红外线技术相比，蓝牙有着更高的传输速度，而且不需要像红外线那样进行接口对接口的连接，所有蓝牙设备基本上只要在有效通信范围内使用，就可以进行随时连接。
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/藍牙

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Aug 4, 2024 · 新机子蓝牙用不了硬控我一下午，气得我写个文记录一下这个大坑。大伙可以直接按目录从上到下开整！问题界面问题如下，显示无法连接，可以尝试以下操作:在此 Windows 设备上，打开蓝牙。如果此设备支持蓝牙，但无…
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/703871142

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dec 12, 2024 · 蓝牙技术可简化移动通信终端设备之间的通信，也可简化设备与因特网之间的通信，使数据传输变得更加迅速高效，为无线通信拓宽道路。同时，蓝牙技术也是无线个人区域网络（WPAN）发展的有力推动者。
https://blog.csdn.net/a342874650/article/details/135110353

schedule

Claim 9: “The PIF sold a 70% stake in the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “LIV players were told as recently as last month that funding was secure through 2032.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 11: “New reports suggest LIV’s guaranteed funding may now only extend through the end of the 2026 season.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 12: “This week, the golf world was overtaken by rumors that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is set to end its investment in LIV, effectively pulling the plug on a longterm future.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report rumors that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is considering or on the verge of ending its financial support for LIV Golf, suggesting the tour's future is in doubt.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge was the mass arrest of a number of prominent Saudi Arabian princes, government ministers, and business people in Saudi Arabia on 4 November 2017. It took place weeks …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–2019_Saudi_Arabian_purge

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud (Arabic: بندر بن سلطان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود; born 2 March 1949) is a member of the Saudi royal family, military officer, and retired diplomat who served as Saudi Arabia's am…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandar_bin_Sultan_Al_Saud

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riyadh

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 13: “As a result, new reports suggest LIV’s guaranteed funding may now only extend through the end of the 2026 season — something CEO Scott O’Neil seemed to confirm Friday.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 14: “Fresh off a successful defense of his Masters title at Augusta National, the 36-year-old finds himself watching the long-running saga of LIV Golf edge toward what could be its final chapter.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results confirm Rory McIlroy defended his Masters title at Augusta National and that he is 36 years old, citing multiple sources. However, the evidence does not provide a single, consistent source confirming the 'long-running saga of LIV Golf edge[ing] toward what could be its final chapter' in conjunction with the Masters win, making the entire claim structure reliant on the initial article's narrative framing.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Masters Tournament was the 89th edition of the Masters Tournament and the first of the men's four major golf championships held in 2025. The tournament was played from April 10–13 at Augusta …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Masters_Tournament

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Masters Tournament was the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament and the first of the four men's major golf championships held in 2026. The tournament was played April 9–12 at Augusta Nation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Masters_Tournament

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Masters Tournament is a golf competition that was established in 1934, with Horton Smith winning the inaugural tournament. The Masters is the first of four major championships to be played each ye…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Masters_Tournament_cha…

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 15: “This week, the PIF sold a 70% stake in the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, and its involvement in ventures like Tom Brady’s Fanatics’ Flag Football initiative appears to be wavering, with events relocated from Riyadh to Los Angeles.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “LIV players were told as recently as last month that funding was secure through 2032.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 17: “LIV reportedly lost more than $1.1 billion between 2022 and 2024.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 18: “LIV Golf has been bankrolled to the tune of nearly $6 billion by Saudi Arabia’s PIF.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 19: “At this year’s Masters, both missed the cut.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 20: “Koepka utilized the PGA Tour’s “Returning Member Program,” though it reportedly cost him more than $50 million in fines, donations, and forfeited equity.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 21: “According to financial analysts at Money In Sport, its monthly net spend now exceeds $100 million, driven largely by prize funds that dwarf those on the PGA Tour.”

CORROBORATED

Two distinct web search results report that LIV Golf's net spending per month averaged around $100 million over 2024 and 2025, driven by PIF injections.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In late February, it was reported that LIV Golf’s net spending per month averaged $100 million in 2024 and 2025. For the 2026 season, LIV’s fifth, Saudi PIF Governor Yasir Al Rumayyan reportedly appro…
https://nytimespost.com/liv-golfs-end-may-be-imminent-as-rep…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — No tears for LIV Golf’s demise, but hopes that it will strengthen the PGA Tour—& support for the game & players. www.wsj.com/sports/golf/liv-golf-saudi-funding-e7c19130.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — LIV Golf has spent an average of $100 million per month over 2024 and 2025, funded by regular injections from PIF rather than an annual lump sum. At this rate, cumulative investment is expected to exc…
https://www.golfmagic.com/tour/liv-golf/pif-approves-fresh-2…

schedule

Claim 22: “Mark Cannizarro of The Post reported that over $1.3 billion has been spent on LIV Golf contracts.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 23: “Jon Rahm hasn’t come close to a major win since moving and the likes of Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson have clearly gone backwards.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 24: “For others, LIV has been transformative. Journeyman professionals such as Pat Perez suddenly found themselves earning more in a matter of months than they had in decades on the PGA Tour.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 25: “Even embattled Tiger Woods, his body ravaged by injuries and surgeries, was reportedly offered an eye-watering $800 million to join.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from any source (cross-reference, web search, or Wikipedia) regarding a reported $800 million offer to Tiger Woods.

check_circle

Claim 26: “Since it launched in 2021 under the slogan “Golf, But Louder,” LIV Golf has been bankrolled to the tune of nearly $6 billion by Saudi Arabia’s PIF.”

CORROBORATED

The web search results confirm that LIV Golf launched in 2021 and that it has been bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with one source specifically mentioning the $6 billion figure.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — LIV Golf ( LIV) is a professional men's golf tour. The name "LIV" refers to the Roman numeral 54, the number of holes that used to be played at LIV events (now 72 since the 2026 season). The first LIV…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIV_Golf

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Public Investment Fund (PIF; Arabic: صندوق الاستثمارات العامة) is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. It is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world with total estimated assets…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Investment_Fund

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sportswashing refers to the practice of using sports to improve a country's or organization's reputation, often to distract from human rights concerns, political controversies, or other negative aspec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportswashing_in_Saudi_Arabia

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.