Saudi-backed golf league LIV Golf will cease operations after a five-year run, ending its rivalry with the established PGA Tour. The decision comes after several top players, including Sergio Garcia, announced their departures from the circuit in recent weeks.
The league, which launched in 2022 with substantial financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, disrupted professional golf by offering lucrative contracts to leading players and introducing a team-based format. Its emergence triggered a protracted conflict with the PGA Tour that included lawsuits, player suspensions, and a eventual framework agreement announced in June 2023.
Garcia, a former Masters champion, was among the high-profile golfers who joined LIV Golf in its inaugural season. His reported departure, along with other unnamed players, preceded the league's decision to shut down. The closure marks the end of a turbulent chapter in professional golf that reshaped the sport's competitive landscape and business model.
