LIV Golf: Sergio Garcia responds to speculation over future of Saudi-backed league amid ‘announcement’ rumours | Golf News

Sergio Garcia believes LIV Golf remains “a project for many years” despite swirling speculation about the future of the Saudi-backed league.

Ahead of LIV’s latest event in Mexico City this week, the future of the league has been the centre of frenzied speculation on social media since Tuesday night.

The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, reported on Wednesday that LIV Golf executives had been summoned to an “emergency meeting” in New York with suggestions that some kind of announcement was imminent.

Sky Sports understands that there is a lot of confusion about the situation among players, who would like some reassurances, but team captains – of which Garcia is one – have not been informed of any imminent announcement.

It has been business as usual at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico on Wednesday, with players practising on the course ahead of Thursday’s first round. Reports that players have not been granted entry to the course or of power being switched off were wide of the mark.

Jon Rahm’s scheduled pre-event press conference did not take place in Mexico City on Tuesday due to what LIV said were technical reasons, but Garcia’s did proceed as planned on Wednesday when the former Masters champion was asked about the growing speculation.

“Honestly, we aren’t going to listen to anything except for what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf chairman] told us as the start of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project for many years,” said Garcia, speaking in Spanish.

“As you know, there are always a lot of rumours. I can’t tell you anything more than we already know.”

The Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner posted on X: “Pairings were just released for tomorrow’s first round of LIV Golf Mexico, for what it’s worth. Players, though, are still awaiting their fate. They’ll know more likely by mid-afternoon.”

The LIV Golf story so far

LIV Golf launched in 2021, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to serve as a rival to the established PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

Its emergence contributed to a division within professional golf, with some of the biggest names in the game like Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson defecting to the breakaway tour.

LIV began as a series of 54-hole tournaments, but switched to 74 holes for 2026 with the hope of securing Official World Golf Ranking points.

LIV had also announced for 2026 a total prize fund increase to $30m, with the team prize doubling to $10m alongside the $20m individual purse.

The Saudi-backed league started with 12 teams and 48 players, before expanding to 13 teams, but lost notable names in five-time major winner Brook Koepka and former Masters champion Patrick Reed in the past few months.

Koepka and Reed’s reasons for LIV U-turns

Koepka has returned to the PGA Tour, while Reed is seeking reinstatement for the 2027 season and is currently competing on the DP World Tour.

The pair confirmed their moves with statements on social media. Koepka posted on X: “When I was a child, I always dreamed about competing on the PGA Tour and I am just as excited today to announce that I am returning to the PGA Tour.

“Being closer to home and spending more time with my family makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me.

“I believe in where the PGA Tour is headed with new leadership, new investors, and an equity program that gives players a meaningful ownership stake.”

In his post on X, Reed said: “After careful thought and consideration, my family and I have decided that I will no longer compete on the LIV Golf Tour.

“I’m a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA Tour, which is where my story began with my wife, Justine.

“I am moving forward in my career, and I look forward to competing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. I can’t wait to get back out there and revisit some of the best places on earth.”

Koepka and Reed finished tied for 12th at the 2026 Masters, while some star names from LIV struggled – with the notable exception of Tyrell Hatton, who was tied-third at 10 under, only two strokes behind champion Rory McIlroy.

How did LIV golfers perform at The Masters?

Five of LIV’s field of 10 participants failed to make the cut at Augusta National including, most notably, Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time major champion and five-time winner on LIV.

DeChambeau missed out on the weekend after rounds of 76 and 74, the second of which included a triple-bogey seven on the 18th hole.

John Rahm and Sergio Garcia struggled to make the cut, before finishing tied-38th and 52nd, respectively. Dustin Johnson finished tied-33rd and Charl Schwartzel 54th.

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