Jackson Reid
LIV Golf is a Saudi-financed golf league that has attracted controversy since its launch. It is backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which has also acquired interests in Newcastle United, Formula 1 racing, and boxing. LIV Golf has been criticised as a form of sportswashing, with Saudi Arabia attempting to improve its global image through high-profile sports investments. Despite this, LIV Golf has attracted some of the sport's biggest names with lucrative appearance fees and signing bonuses, positioning itself as a player-focused alternative to the PGA Tour. The league features 13 teams of four players each, battling across 14 global locations, with a unique format emphasising team competition and a sliding scale of points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | LIV Golf |
| Name Meaning | Refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events |
| Inaugural Event | 9 June 2022, at the Centurion Club near St Albans in Hertfordshire, UK |
| Current Status | The Invitational Series became the LIV Golf League in 2023 |
| Funding | Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia |
| Purpose | To improve the public image of the Saudi monarchy through sports |
| Format | 13 teams, 54 players, no cuts, and shotgun starts |
| Prize Money | $25 million per event; $4 million for the winning individual and $5 million for the winning team |
| Broadcast | Multi-year, free-to-air broadcast deal with DAZN; exclusive broadcast rights in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and Switzerland |
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What You'll Learn
LIV Golf's format
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The name "LIV" refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events. The tour is said to be part of efforts by the Saudi monarchy to improve its public image through sports.
The LIV Golf League is a breakaway golf circuit that began in 2022. It aims to "modernise and supercharge the game of professional golf through expanded opportunities for both players and fans alike". The league features 13 teams of four players, plus two wildcards that play each week. The 54 players are also split into 13 teams of four who compete for money. The spare two players who are not in teams can score points in the individual standings across the season.
LIV Golf events are played over 54 holes, with shotgun starts and no cuts. In the first three years of the LIV Golf League, in the first two days of the three-day events, three of the four players' stroke play scores counted towards the team total. On day three, every score counted. Now, in 2025, all four scores count on all three days of the tournament. The purse at each event is $25 million. The winning individual earns $4 million and the winning team earns $5 million, which is invested back into the team.
LIV Golf has been criticised for its association with Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of corruption and human rights abuses. In 2022, a group of nearly 2,500 survivors of family members killed or injured during the September 11 attacks wrote an open letter to golfers who had remained loyal to the PGA Tour, thanking them for not defecting to LIV Golf.
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The Saudi connection
LIV Golf has been accused of aiding the repressive Saudi government and being used for sportswashing, a term used to describe the country's attempts to improve its image through sports. This criticism was heightened when former US President Donald Trump hosted the LIV Golf tour at his golf club in New Jersey, despite previously blaming Saudi Arabia for the 9/11 attacks.
In addition to the political implications, LIV Golf has caused a stir in the world of professional golf. The PGA Tour, the traditional governing body, announced that its members participating in LIV Golf events could face sanctions, including fines, suspensions, or bans. This led to a merger announced in June 2023, where the PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf agreed to pool their commercial rights into a new for-profit venture funded by the Public Investment Fund. This merger was intended to "unify the game of golf globally" and resolve existing litigation.
While LIV Golf has faced backlash, it has also gained traction among golfers and fans. Some golfers have defended their decision to join LIV Golf, citing the financial incentives and the opportunity to modernise and supercharge the sport. The league has attracted golfers with large purses, offering $25 million per event, with the winning individual earning $4 million and the winning team earning $5 million.
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Sportswashing
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The first LIV Golf Invitational Series event started on 9 June 2022, at the Centurion Club near St Albans in Hertfordshire, UK. The Invitational Series became the LIV Golf League in 2023.
LIV Golf has been accused of sportswashing. Sportswashing is the use of sport to redirect public attention away from unethical conduct. The intended effect is to improve the reputation of the offending entity, by using the immense popularity of sport to 'wash' away poor publicity. Sportswashing is often carried out by authoritarian states that have committed human rights abuses, but commercial businesses also engage in the practice.
In the case of LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia has been accused of using the tour to improve its public image and distract from its human rights abuses and corruption. Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf, has denied these accusations, saying he works for LIV because of his passion for the sport. However, he has also defended the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Jamal Khashoggi's murder, drawing extensive criticism.
Some commentators have pointed out that the existence of LIV Golf as a legitimate venue for the Saudi royal family and their business interests to show up and look respectable is more important than the quality of the product or its profitability. They argue that the primary objective of LIV Golf is sportswashing, and that is why the Saudis are investing billions of dollars in it.
On 6 June 2023, LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and PGA European Tour announced a merger, with the new entity being funded by the Public Investment Fund. This agreement ends all existing litigation, and there are plans for a "fair and objective process" for players who want to re-apply for membership.
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Reactions from the PGA Tour
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The breakaway tour has been criticised for being a sportswashing venture, aiding the repressive Saudi government in improving its public image.
The PGA Tour initially responded to the emergence of LIV Golf by announcing that its members participating in LIV Golf events could face sanctions, including fines, suspensions, or bans. This led to some golfers choosing to remain loyal to the PGA Tour, while others defected to LIV Golf.
In June 2022, a group of nearly 2,500 survivors of family members killed or injured during the September 11 attacks wrote an open letter thanking golfers who had remained loyal to the PGA Tour and resisted the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. They criticised the Saudi government's involvement in the 9/11 attacks and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Tiger Woods, who turned down a reported $700 million to $800 million offer to join LIV Golf, expressed disappointment in golfers who had joined the breakaway tour. At a press conference before the 2022 Open Championship, Woods emphasised his commitment to the PGA Tour, stating that it had provided opportunities for golfers to pursue their careers and compete for prestigious trophies.
However, in a surprising turn of events on 6 June 2023, the PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf announced a merger. This agreement aimed to unify global golf and benefit all stakeholders by maximising excitement and competition. The merger was funded by the Public Investment Fund, with the PGA Tour appointing the majority of the board. While this merger ended existing litigation, it also raised questions about the influence of Saudi funding in professional golf.
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LIV Golf's future
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the country's sovereign wealth fund. The name "LIV" refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events. The tour has been criticised for allegedly being part of the Saudi monarchy's efforts to improve its public image through sports.
LIV Golf has attracted some high-profile golfers with large sums of money and it has made efforts to differentiate itself from the PGA Tour with a format that includes 13 teams of four players, no cuts, and shotgun starts. While some have criticised LIV Golf for allegedly prioritising sportswashing over creating a profitable and sustainable product, others argue that its innovative format and approach will help to modernise and supercharge the sport, attracting new audiences and generating fresh levels of excitement.
LIV Golf has secured broadcast deals with various platforms, including DAZN and ITVX, to increase its visibility and reach a wider audience. The tour has also expanded to include more teams and players, with plans for further growth and the development of a paid subscription service for LIV Golf content.
While the future of LIV Golf remains uncertain, the organisation appears committed to establishing itself as a major player in the world of professional golf. With significant financial backing and a growing presence, LIV Golf could potentially challenge the dominance of the PGA Tour and shape the future of the sport. However, it remains to be seen whether LIV Golf can sustain its momentum and overcome the controversies and criticisms surrounding its connections to Saudi Arabia.
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Frequently asked questions
LIV is a professional men's golf tour.
LIV is 54 in Roman numerals, the number of holes played at LIV events.
LIV Golf features 54 players competing in an individual tournament. Those 54 players are also split into 13 teams of four who compete for money.
LIV Golf is financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.
Some journalists and commentators have said that the tour is part of efforts by the Saudi monarchy to improve its public image through sports.
