LIV Golf is in a seriously rough spot heading into the British Open, the final major championship of the season. This Saudi Arabian-backed venture is seemingly on its last leg, and it desperately needs Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau to absolutely show out at Royal Birkdale this week. If they don't, we could be looking at the final nail in the coffin for a league that's already teetering on the edge of collapse.
The Hole LIV Golf Is In Right Now
Let's be real, LIV Golf is not in a good place. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the PIF, announced they are pulling their funding after the 2026 season. Think about that: the PIF poured more than $5 billion into this league since 2022, just to get it off the ground, and now they are walking away. The venture just hasn't gained any real traction, and they have even lost multiple notable golfers who packed up and went back to the PGA Tour. The league is trying to put on a brave face with a "LIV 2.0" mindset, talking about tweaking formats to keep top golfers and bring in new investors. They are even trying to raise up to $250 million just to stay in business next season. But here is the kicker: LIV Golf is reportedly laying groundwork for a potential U.S. bankruptcy if they can't pull that off. They are already running on loans for the rest of 2026, and employees have been informed about potential mass layoffs. Oh, and there is a new lawsuit claiming they stole the idea for the league in the first place. Yeah, none of that screams "bright future." It is genuinely hard to see them surviving beyond this 2026 campaign.The Hail Mary at Royal Birkdale
Can Rahm and DeChambeau actually save the league on their own? Probably not. At this point, it might even be too late for one or two players to turn the tide of a $5 billion investment gone sideways. But what they *can* do this week is provide a massive boost of credibility. This is the last time most people will even pay attention to LIV Golf's top names until next April at Augusta National. A win, or even a legitimate run at the Claret Jug on Sunday afternoon, would give LIV something, anything, to pitch to those hesitant investors in the coming months. It would show that LIV Golf still has true stars in the sport they can build around, and that they can actually compete with the Rory McIlroys and Scottie Schefflers of the PGA Tour. For those investors sitting on the fence, a big performance this week could truly be everything.The Major Problem
But asking these guys to deliver a miracle is a huge ask, especially considering their recent major championship form. We only have to look back a month ago to the U.S. Open. Both Rahm and DeChambeau, along with Dustin Johnson, who did not even qualify for this British Open, completely crashed out at the worst possible time on Friday. Rahm and DeChambeau straight up missed the cut. Johnson, after getting within a single shot of the lead, went 8-over in a brutal five-hole span during his second round and fell completely out of contention. What is even more stunning? DeChambeau has yet to make a cut at a major championship *this season*. That is a tough pill to swallow for someone who finished inside the top 10 in six of his previous eight majors. So, as LIV Golf's future hangs by a thread, Rahm and DeChambeau are under immense pressure to deliver, starting now. There are four events left on the schedule, with the team championship at the end of August likely being the final moment of clarity. But the clock is ticking, and the British Open feels like a now or never moment for these guys, and for LIV Golf itself.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.