LIV Golf have three major changes in the works to ensure survival

The future of LIV Golf is hanging in the balance, but three major changes could ensure the breakaway circuit survives into the 2027 season.

LIV Golf was dealt a crushing blow in April when the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it would end its financial backing.

The PIF has reportedly pumped an eye-watering $5 billion into the league since its launch in 2022, and as it stands, losing that investment could be fatal.

Worryingly, the PIF jumping ship isn't the only update threatening to stop the league altogether, as it's been confirmed that the Asian Tour will join the DP World Tour and PGA Tour ecosystem.

LIV had partnered with the Asian Tour before its launch four years ago, and it provided the league with a promotion-and-relegation pathway to its lucrative tournaments.

The Asian Tour’s Saudi-funded International Series has offered events with $2 million purses for players to keep sharp away from the 14-event LIV schedule and was a crucial part of the league's success.

Rory McIlroy even hailed this update as "positive" news for golf and has remained loyal to the PGA Tour, notably stating that, "If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on Earth, I would retire".

While McIlroy is firmly behind the breakaway circuit stopping beyond 2026, according to Today's Golfer, LIV Golf have three major changes in the pipeline to ensure the league's survival.

The first is to reduce the number of tournaments from 14 to 10 across the campaign, while cutting the overall prize money dramatically from $420 million down to roughly $100 million, with purses dropping to about $10 million per event.

Finally, there are also plans to adjust the pay structure across all events, potentially eliminating payouts for the bottom-tier finishers at the tail end of the leaderboard. Currently, the bottom 11 players at LIV events each bank $50,000.

LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil is pitching a revamped “LIV 2.0” to prospective investors, including the above changes, as LIV bosses race against time to raise the $350 million required to keep the tour going.

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Seven LIV Golf players planning exits

While there is confidence that investment can be secured and the tour will continue in 2027, players are already considering jumping ship, even with the potential investment talks.

"Seven players have told me directly they plan to leave the league after the season finishes, regardless of whether LIV Golf finds funding," Flushing It reported.

The exact names of the golfers planning to leave LIV haven't been confirmed, but one player spoke anonymously about their wish to depart.

“I have to look after myself and my career. Every year I play on LIV is another suspension," they said.

"I can play the next few events and make as much money as I can and then play in Asia and get DP invites. I could be on the PGA Tour in two years if I play well.”

Talk of investment and changes to the structure is all good, but with potentially some big stars jumping ship, the future of LIV Golf is growing uncertain.