Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who founded LIV Golf alongside Greg Norman in 2022, is stepping down as chairman of the league.
Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is no longer affiliated with the league, per Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal. His stepping down is likely part of the PIF’s decision to withdraw funding for the league, which it’s expected to officially announce Thursday after reports have surfaced in recent weeks questioning the future of LIV Golf due to PIF reportedly pulling funding after the 2026 season.
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Al-Rumayyan has been an integral part of LIV since its inception. He was among the people who negotiated the original framework agreement nearly three years ago and was apart of meeting with President Donald Trump and PGA Tour members early last year. Even earlier this year, he approved more funding for the league, pushing the PIF’s investment north of $5 billion.
Earlier this week, LIV Golf announced it was postponing its New Orleans event, though a make-up date has yet to be set. Also on Wednesday night, Golf Digest reported multiple LIV players have reached out to the PGA Tour to ask about pathways to return, though those wanting to come back will not be welcomed like Brooks Koepka or even Patrick Reed have been.
It has been a tumultuous week for LIV Golf in the midst of a difficult stretch. Reports first surfaced two weeks ago about whether the Mexico City event would even happen. It did, but with PIF ending funding for the league after this year, its future is up in the air more than ever.
CEO Scott O’Neil has said he will look to garner sponsors and keep the league moving forward in 2027, but as reports continue to come and news continues to cycle, LIV Golf’s future is more in question now than ever before.
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With Al-Rumayyan leaving the league, he could be seen as abandoning the sinking ship. He has been the PIF’s chairman since 2015 and also chairs Newcastle United of the Premier League.
But his time involved with LIV Golf seems over.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PIF’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan steps down as chairman of LIV Golf, per report
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