Australian golf star Cameron Smith is dismissing worries about the future of the LIV Golf circuit, expressing confidence the tour will survive even after losing its Saudi Arabian financial support.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has invested over $5 billion in LIV since the tour began in 2022, announced last week it would stop providing funding after the 2026 season ends. This decision has left the golf circuit searching for alternative financial backing.
Smith, who leads the Australian team Ripper GC, joined the tour early for a reported $100 million contract and has collected approximately $50 million in tournament winnings from the team-based competition format.
The 2022 British Open champion told media members he had been assured the tour would operate beyond this year, though he declined to provide specific details.
“I promise you will hear it first from someone else, rather than me,” he said.
“I know the team are working hard behind the scenes and they’re doing everything they can for us.
“So I am excited, I know (LIV Golf chief executive) Scott O’Neil is really excited for the progress and challenge in the coming months.”
O’Neil addressed reporters before the Virginia tournament in Washington, D.C., expressing optimism about securing support from fresh sponsors and financial partners.
“I had about a dozen inbound calls this weekend from potential investors,” O’Neil said on Tuesday.
“It was a split between private equity, family office and then your traditional high net worth guys who invest in sports and sports teams. So that has been really positive.”
O’Neil avoided directly answering whether the Saudi fund would fulfill player contract obligations beyond 2026.
“I mean, they own the majority of the business now, and they’ve agreed to fund through the season, as they said. Nothing there has changed,” he said.
Smith’s performance in major championships has declined significantly over the past two years, with the 32-year-old failing to make the cut in all four major tournaments in 2025.
He acknowledged his struggles weren’t acceptable and revealed he was implementing changes to improve his performance.
“I can promise you, the fire is in the belly, it’s just a matter of time. I don’t think time is running out on my major career by any means,” he added.
