Carlos Ortiz worries about LIV Golf’s uncertain future
What is the future of LIV Golf?
That’s one of the big questions facing the pro golf world as the 2026 season quickly draws to a close. Bryson DeChambeau said he is “optimistic” about the business model CEO Scott O’Neil is pitching to potential investors and believes LIV Golf will have a path forward in 2027 despite the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announcing it will withdraw funding after the 2026 season. “I think we all hope that there is a business plan that makes sense for club golf,” DeChambeau said at LIV Korea in May. “We will see if the investors like it or not. I am giving everything I can to make it happen, if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”
Sergio Garcia struck a similar tone. The Fireballs captain said that he is very concerned about how LIV will look if there will be. O’Neil is seeking between $250 million and $300 million from outside investors and said LIV has “a lot of momentum.” However, the CEO would not commit to the league having enough money to finish the 2026 season.
Despite the uncertain future, many involved with LIV Golf express confidence in 2027 and beyond.
Carlos Ortiz is not among them.
Ortiz, a member of Torque GC, is playing in the DP World Tour’s BMW International Open this week. Ortiz is one of nine LIV Golf members in the field this week, with LIV in the midst of a nine-week streak without events after postponing its New Orleans tournament (which has yet to be rescheduled). Ortiz has won just once at LIV since joining the Rebels in 2022 but has reportedly earned an estimated $34 million at the course. After entering Friday’s scrimmage in Germany, Ortiz was asked about the league’s bleak future.
His update was less optimistic than the one given by his league colleagues in previous weeks.
“It looks difficult; I hope there is a way forward,” said Ortiz. “To be honest, I don’t know the whole situation, but it doesn’t look good, obviously, as we all know. It’s a shame. I really enjoyed my time playing around the world, and it was nice to play with my team. [Torque GC].
“We’ll see what happens, but whatever happens, I’m sure I’ll find a place to play and, for me, it’s about playing golf. If I can start coming to places like this and see new places, it will be great. For me, whatever happens is absolutely fine.”
Earlier in the week, said Martin Kaymer, the Cleeks captain bunkered.co that O’Neil held a meeting to provide an update on the league’s future after the 2026 season. According to Kaymer, the idea was good, but everything is still up in the air.
“The way it looked last night was really good; there is something interesting. I don’t know if they will succeed, but they presented a business plan and some kind of strategy for what 2027 could look like,” Kaymer told bunkered. “They also asked if we would like to be a part of it or not, I don’t know if they will ask every player or only the captain, but the way they presented me was very good. They spent a lot of time thinking about the topic of continuing, because I think we had a lot of momentum.
“We still get a bad report here and there, but I think that’s normal, it doesn’t matter where you play. If he can do the job until the end of July, to have investors in 2027 – don’t ask me how much money they have to raise – it will be good to go on the journey.”
While DeChambeau and other captains are helping O’Neil expose investors to LIV’s future vision, Jon Rahm is not. Another league star chooses to do what he does best and let the chips fall where they may.
“It can be a case of staying in your lane as far as I’m concerned,” Rahm said at LIV Golf Andalucia. “I don’t know anything about business, I wouldn’t say I know anything about business, and if I was in a business place, I wouldn’t know the first thing to say.
“My job is to play golf, and I’ll say it’s tough enough as it is, especially this week.”
LIV Golf has three tournaments remaining on the 2026 schedule. The league will hold its UK event after the Open Championship, with trips to Indianapolis and Michigan to round off the year.
Then everyone waits to see if LIV Golf returns in 2027.
