Uncertain Future for Cameron Smith and Ripper GC Amid LIV Golf Crisis
The future of Australian golfer Cameron Smith and his all-Australian team, Ripper GC, remains uncertain as the LIV Golf league faces potential collapse. Reports suggest that the multi-billion-dollar venture, which has been a major disruptor in the world of golf, could be on the brink of financial instability.
According to the Financial Times, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering cutting its financial support for LIV Golf. While no final decision has been made, this development has raised concerns among players and fans alike. Additionally, The Telegraph reported that LIV executives were called into an emergency meeting, signaling possible internal turmoil.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has attempted to reassure players by sending an email stating that the remaining nine tournaments of the 14-event 2026 schedule will proceed as planned. However, the message did not address whether the PIF might halt its investment after spending approximately $7 billion since the league’s inception in 2022 or if the circuit would continue beyond this season.
“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O’Neil wrote. “While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before.”
The sixth tournament of the year, hosted in Mexico, begins on Thursday. O’Neil added, “The life of a startup movement is often defined by these moments of pressure. We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we’ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.”
Player Exoduses and Market Challenges
Several high-profile players have left LIV Golf in recent months. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour, while former Masters champion Patrick Reed also departed, competing on the DP World Tour in hopes of making a return to the PGA Tour. If the rumors about LIV’s potential collapse are true, it would leave Smith and his Ripper GC teammates—Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, and Elvis Smylie—in a state of uncertainty.
Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, who has struggled in recent majors, including missing the cut at the Masters last week, is a stakeholder in Ripper GC. He was ranked as the second-highest earner in Nine Newspapers’ recent top 50 list after joining LIV on a $140 million contract in 2022.
Smylie joined the team this year, securing a victory in just his second start at LIV Riyadh in February by holding off former Masters champion Jon Rahm. Through high-profile contracts and substantial prize money, LIV managed to attract several of golf’s biggest names, including Koepka, Jon Rahm, Smith, and fellow major champions Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.
However, the league has faced criticism for being seen as a tool for Saudi Arabia to improve its global image amid scrutiny over its human rights record.
Growth in International Markets
Despite challenges in the U.S. market, LIV Golf has found success in other regions. The LIV Golf Adelaide event set a record as the highest-attended golf tournament in Australian history, drawing over 115,000 fans. Similarly, the South African tournament attracted more than 100,000 spectators, marking another national record.
These events highlight the growing appeal of LIV Golf outside the U.S., even as questions about its long-term viability remain. For now, the league continues to push forward, with O’Neil emphasizing its commitment to delivering a compelling sporting experience.
