Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is set to withdraw support from LIV Golf, its four-year-old rival to the PGA Tour, citing mounting financial pressures that include hosting the 2034 men’s World Cup and 2030 World Expo, a person familiar with the matter said. The $1 trillion fund plans to prioritize “investment efficiency” in its new five-year strategy, slowing high-cost projects. LIV Golf, which lured stars like Sergio Garcia with career-defining contracts exceeding tens of millions of dollars, faces uncertainty as players remain uninformed about the league’s future.

Garcia called rumors “a lot of noise,” stating only Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF governor, had promised LIV’s role in a “broader, longer effort.” The PGA Tour’s dominance and LIV’s reliance on Saudi-backed spectacle now hang in the balance, raising questions about the viability of sportswashing ventures amid economic recalibration. No cancellation of LIV’s Mexico event was announced, but the fund’s silence fuels speculation. This pivot underscores the risks of overextending sovereign wealth funds into global sports amid shifting geopolitical and financial priorities.