LIV golfer says he’ll never return to the PGA Tour, reveals internal discussions, whether players were paid
LIV Golf faces funding cut as Saudi Public Investment Fund withdraws
PGA Tour announcer Doug Bell discusses reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund will stop funding the LIV Golf league after the current season, which would jeopardize the league’s future. LIV Golf has reported losses of between $6 billion and $9 billion since its 2021 launch, surprising many managers and players. This significant fiscal shift underscores Saudi Arabia’s broader reassessment of its investment priorities.
Midway through the 2026 season, LIV Golf is at a crossroads.
The breakaway golf tour is facing major financial difficulties as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will no longer support the league and its expensive contracts. This funding enabled stars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm to leave the PGA Tour, as well as the ability to hold fewer events in international locations.
Even as rumors swirled about the tour’s future, CEO Scott O’Neil expressed public confidence that the season would continue as planned. The announced date in Louisiana was canceled soon after. With PIF withdrawing at the end of the 2026 season, LIV essentially needs to find new investors to continue as a rival tour.
This financial reality has led to speculation about the future of LIV players. Will the PGA Tour institute a new program with penalties similar to those Brooks Koepka faced upon his return? Will some players have to earn their PGA cards back, as Patrick Reed is currently trying to do?
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It remains to be seen how it will play out for the entire roster, but there is one LIV golfer who has no interest in returning to the PGA Tour no matter what, to say the least.
Thomas Pieters tees off on the first hole during the final round of LIV Golf Indianapolis on August 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images)
Thomas Pieters’ PGA Tour is complete
Thomas Pieters, a seven-time winner as a professional mainly on the European Tour, spoke to Dan Rappaport in a new interview. “Dan in Golf” Show about the future of LIV and how it relates to the PGA Tour. And no matter what happened next, he was adamant that his tenure as a PGA member was over.
“I’ll definitely never go back to the PGA Tour. I’ve never liked this life,” Pieters said. “And that’s not me going on the PGA Tour, it’s not for me. I tried and I wasn’t happy there. If (LIV) goes, I’ll probably try to play a little bit on the European Tour or I don’t know. I really don’t know.
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“I’m not too worried about it at this point because I still feel like it’s my job to focus on the next six, seven tournaments at LIV and then we’ll see. They’re obviously trying to put it together next year. I think you know more than I do at this point, so we’ll see.”
Thomas Pieters of 4Aces Golf Club walks to the third green during the second round of LIV Golf on August 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images)
Pieters also addressed rumors that LIV players were not paid at the Mexico City event, saying, “We have received or are receiving money.”
As for first-quarter payments, Pieters said it may have been “a week late,” but “some got it early, some got it a week late.” He then humorously added: “I’m not sure all of these guys check their bank accounts every two seconds.”
Rappaport asked him what LIV had told players internally about future talks, and somewhat surprisingly Pieters said they were unable to get any more information from the public.
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“Not much. I think we have half a day’s notice of whatever officially comes out of LIV. I know Scott has told us explicitly that he’s going to the broader market and is trying to fund that for next year. I think it’s a huge challenge but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Refreshingly honest, Pieters also said he wasn’t too worried about LIV’s future because his mindset was to enjoy bigger financial paydays in the meantime. He added that he will eventually exit the game, so he is not worried about when the game will end.
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Thomas Pieters tees off at the 11th green during the final round of LIV Golf Indianapolis on August 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images)
Beyond signing bonuses and larger purses, one advantage LIV had over the PGA Tour was the shortened schedule. Instead of the weekly grind where players finish on Sunday and then immediately head out to prepare for the next tournament, events have been made more widespread. Many players cited extra rest and time at home as a key motivation for leaving. Pieters clearly seems to agree with them.
What happens to LIV and his players later this year will be the most fascinating story in golf. Many fans are clamoring for the reunification of both sides. However, if this happens, it seems certain that Thomas Pieters will not be with them.
