The Saudis might be employing the force majeure clause in their contracts, which would give them a legally defensible “emergency exit” button to kill the financially failing tour quickly and cheaply amid “war-related economic pressures.”
What event triggered that?
The PIF, which includes Aramco (and the Valvoline lubricants brand), also sponsors numerous women’s golf tournaments from the Ladies European Tour (LET), and is the presenting sponsor of the next two FIFA Women’s World Cups (all on Obamavision here). Could the PIF be angling towards sponsoring only women’s golf and football to politically advance Sportswashing in preparation for next year’s WrestleMania in Riyadh, boxing and MMA in Saudi Arabia, and other events? Is their NASCAR sponsorship at Hendrick Motorsports in trouble? Interesting storylines are coming from this “exit” but the 2026 Ladies European Tour has five LIV-organised tournaments, and it could be advanced where the LIV venues would move to hosting women’s golf funded by the same Saudi riyals.
* February 11-14, PIF Saudi Ladies International, Riyadh - winner Charley Hull (ENG)
* March 2-5, Aramco Championship, Shadow Creek, NV - winner Lauren Coughlin (USA)
* August 6-9, PIF London Championship, Centurion Club, England
* October 8-11, Aramco Korea Championship, Seoul, Korea
* November 5-8, Aramco China Championship, Mission Hills, Shenzen, PRC
The LET could take over most of the venues on the 2026 LIV tour with the same Saudi money. Furthermore, the Asian Tour could be funded with a move of LIV tournaments to the Asian Tour. But I think the Saudi push will be to women’s golf.