Trevor Ng
The Saudi golf league, also known as LIV Golf, is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The league was officially founded in October 2021, with former professional golfer Greg Norman named as its CEO. The name LIV refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events. The league has faced criticism for being an attempt by the Saudi monarchy to improve its public image through sports, with some human rights groups accusing Saudi Arabia of sportswashing. Despite the controversy, LIV Golf has attracted several top golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, by offering large sums of money. The 2025 LIV Golf League season started in February with a floodlit event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and featured 14 tournaments across global locations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | LIV Golf |
| Established | 2021 |
| Inaugural Event | June 9, 2022, at the Centurion Club, UK |
| Current CEO | Scott O'Neil |
| Previous CEO | Greg Norman |
| Format | 14 tournaments, 54 players, 13 teams |
| Sponsors | Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia |
| Criticism | Sportswashing, human rights abuses |
| Notable Players | Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2025 LIV Golf League season began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- LIV Golf is financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
- Human rights groups have criticised LIV Golf as sportswashing
- The 2026 LIV Golf schedule is set to include 14 global locations
- LIV Golf has lured top golfers away from the PGA Tour
The 2025 LIV Golf League season began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour that was established in 2021 to rival the PGA Tour. The league is financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and has been the subject of controversy due to accusations of sportswashing by the Saudi monarchy, which has been criticized for human rights abuses. Despite this, LIV Golf has successfully lured top golfers away from the PGA Tour with lucrative offers.
The 2025 season of the LIV Golf League consists of 14 tournaments, including six new courses, and follows the same format as previous years. Each tournament comprises 54 holes played by 52 players attached to 13 teams, plus two Wildcards. The players compete as individuals and teams, with each team consisting of four players who rotate on a per-event basis. The season will run from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale.
The LIV Golf League's unique format emphasizes both individual and team performances. Each event begins with a shotgun start, where 18 groups of players are spread across the course at each hole, teeing off simultaneously. Over three days of competition, there are no cuts, keeping all players in the game until the final putt. The top 24 golfers on the leaderboard after three days will earn points, with the winner taking 40 points, second place earning 30, and a sliding scale of scores down to 24th place, who receives one point.
The team competition further enhances the excitement, with the top eight teams out of 13 earning points. The first-place team receives 32 points, the runner-up gets 24, and the third-place team earns 16 points, with a sliding scale down to eighth place, which earns one point. The season culminates in a winner-take-all shootout for the Team Championship, where the losing teams continue to play, ensuring fans can watch their favorite players throughout the weekend.
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LIV Golf is financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
LIV Golf Investments, the entity that operates the LIV Golf League, is financially backed by the PIF. The PIF has also invested $300 million in a separate 10-year deal with the Asian Tour and its International Series.
The PIF's investment in LIV Golf has been criticised as a form of sportswashing, with human rights groups arguing that Saudi Arabia is attempting to cleanse its repressive global image through sports. Despite these criticisms, LIV Golf has attracted attention with its enormous prize money, offering $20 million in individual prizes and $5 million in group prizes per tournament.
While LIV Golf has suffered significant financial losses, there is no concern about the bankruptcy of the PIF, which is currently the world's largest sovereign debt fund with assets of about $930 billion. However, PIF's investment in LIV Golf is expected to decrease in the future as Saudi Arabia shifts its focus to other mega-events.
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Human rights groups have criticised LIV Golf as sportswashing
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country's sovereign wealth fund. The PIF has invested over $2 billion into LIV Golf and billions more into other sports ventures as part of a plan to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy beyond oil.
In response to the criticism, Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, denied that he was being used for sportswashing, saying he works for LIV because of his passion for the sport. However, Norman has been accused of aiding the repressive Saudi government for his own financial gain. In May 2022, Norman defended the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Jamal Khashoggi's murder, stating, "Look, we've all made mistakes, and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward." His statement drew extensive criticism, including from Khashoggi's fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, who said it was hurtful that "Jamal's brutal killing is brushed off as a 'mistake' and that we should just move on".
LIV Golf has also been criticised by family members of victims of the September 11 attacks, who see the organisation as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to cleanse its reputation by buying off professional athletes. On 22 June 2022, a group of nearly 2,500 survivors of family members killed or injured during the attacks wrote an open letter to golfers who remained loyal to the PGA Tour, thanking them for "resisting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to cleanse its reputation".
LIV Golf has continued to recruit new players, including reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm, who signed with LIV Golf in December 2023 and was given ownership in a new expansion team, Legion XIII. The 2026 LIV Golf schedule is set to take place across 14 global locations, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale.
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The 2026 LIV Golf schedule is set to include 14 global locations
The 2026 LIV Golf schedule is currently being finalised, with 14 global locations set to host the tour across 13 regular season events, followed by a Team Championship finale. The season will run from February to August, with 54 players spread across 13 teams, each consisting of four players, battling it out to be crowned champion.
LIV Golf is financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, and has been accused of being a strategy by the Saudi monarchy to improve its public image through sports. Human rights groups have criticised the tour as sportswashing, with Human Rights Watch calling it "an effort to distract from its serious human rights abuses by taking over events that celebrate human achievement".
Despite the criticism, LIV Golf continues to grow, with new players joining the circuit each year. The tour has also been awarded "best golf event in the world" in 2023 and 2024 at the World Golf Awards.
The 2026 schedule is expected to include five stops in the US, with New Orleans reportedly taking place one week after the US Open in June, and Chicago, Indianapolis, and Michigan capping off the campaign in August. The tour will also head to international locations, with confirmed returns to Mexico City, the UK, and Spain, and a reported first stop in Virginia in early May.
LIV Golf has revolutionised the traditional format of the game with its unique structure, emphasising the importance of being part of a winning team rather than solely chasing individual glory. With its fast-paced competition, shotgun starts, and dramatic eliminations, LIV Golf promises to reinvigorate the sport for millions of fans worldwide.
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LIV Golf has lured top golfers away from the PGA Tour
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The tour has attracted a number of high-profile players away from the PGA Tour, including major champions such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm. Other notable defectors include Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and Abraham Ancer.
The first LIV Golf Invitational Series event took place in June 2022 at the Centurion Club in the UK. The series became the LIV Golf League in 2023, with 13 teams of four players each battling it out over 14 global locations. The league offers a unique format that combines individual and team competitions, with a sliding scale of points awarded and a final winner-take-all shootout for the Team Championship.
The allure of LIV Golf for players stems from several factors, including significant financial incentives. For example, Phil Mickelson was reportedly offered $200 million to join, while Dustin Johnson signed a four-year contract worth $125 million. Players also face a less intensive schedule, with the opportunity to earn larger paychecks at certain tournaments. Additionally, the league's progressive format and team-based approach provide a fresh and exciting perspective for both players and fans.
The emergence of LIV Golf as a rival tour has created a divided sport, with the PGA Tour struggling to retain its top talent. In response, the PGA Tour has made changes to finances and tournament structures to enhance its appeal. However, the success of LIV golfers in major championships has complicated the narrative that defectors would face competitive oblivion. As a result, the PGA Tour's major championship access, previously its ultimate player retention weapon, may no longer be as effective.
The involvement of Saudi Arabia in LIV Golf has been controversial, with critics arguing that it is an attempt by the kingdom to sportswash its reputation and improve its public image through sports. Human rights groups have condemned Saudi Arabia's record on human rights, including the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite this, LIV Golf continues to attract top golfers, and the 2026 schedule is already taking shape.
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Frequently asked questions
The Saudi Golf League, also known as LIV Golf, is based in Saudi Arabia and is financed by the country's Public Investment Fund.
The LIV Golf League holds its tournaments in various locations around the world. The 2025 season, for example, featured 14 tournaments across six new courses.
The 2025 LIV Golf League season began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at a new floodlit event.
LIV Golf Investments, the entity that operates the LIV Golf League, is headquartered in Saudi Arabia. The league's CEO, Scott O'Neil, has expressed interest in expanding the league's global presence.
