Latest report is strongest sign yet that LIV Golf is nearing its end

After weeks of speculation regarding the future of LIV Golf, it appears that the breakaway golf tour is nearing its end. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, players will be notified on Thursday that the funding for the tour will be pulled.

LIV Golf reportedly nearing its end

The future of the tour has been in question since early April when the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund that has financially supported the tour did not include LIV Golf in its near-term plans. 

While the tour went on since then, and while there was no official word on its future, we seem to be getting close to a decision. After the WSJ's report, the Sports Business Journal noted that Yasir Al-Rumayyan stepped down as LIV Golf chairman. Al-Rumayyan is also governor of the PIF.

LIV began in the early 2020s with the intent on becoming a rival tour for the PGA Tour, stealing away several big-name golfers with big paydays. That roster included the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson. But despite the big-name appeal and the attempt, it never made much traction.

Ratings were consistently poor, and it never really gained much of a foothold on the North American sports scene.

Or the global sports scene, for that matter. 

The whole thing has been a flop and will likely continue to be viewed in that light. 

The question will now become whether or not the LIV golfers who joined the tour have an easy pathway back to the PGA Tour. 

When the initial reports of LIV's uncertain future first surfaced, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said he was in favor of anything that made the tour stronger. That would seem to indicate there would be a path back, but that is still a bridge that will need to be crossed.