LIV from Mexico City, a golf league thrust into tumult

Key Points:

• LIV Golf is facing significant uncertainty as its primary backer, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), reportedly plans to pull funding, prompting internal turmoil and speculation about the league's future.
• Despite these challenges, LIV Golf's CEO Scott O’Neil and leadership remain publicly confident, emphasizing plans to continue the season and shift towards a sustainable business model without PIF’s billions by increasing sponsorships and selling equity stakes in teams.
• Operationally, the LIV Mexico City event proceeded amid a power outage and media restrictions, with players and fans showing enthusiasm, though behind the scenes there is anxiety about contract renewals and financial stability.
• Star player Bryson DeChambeau's contract situation symbolizes LIV's broader challenges, as his potential departure and high salary demands highlight the difficulty of retaining top talent amid financial pressures.
• LIV Golf is pivoting from a startup with open-ended funding to a business focused on profitability, aiming to leverage sponsorship growth, ticket sales, and team valuations, but faces skepticism about its long-term viability in a competitive golf landscape.