'Full steam ahead' claims Staffordshire event despite LIV Golf fears

It is ‘full steam ahead’ for LIV Golf’s Staffordshire event, despite fears for the future of the controversial league amid reports funding will be cut by its Saudi Arabian backers.

The LIV event is due to be staged at the JCB Golf & Country Club, at Rocester, near Uttoxeter, from July 23-26.

Last year, it drew some of the biggest names in world golf to last year’s competition, including Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Tyrell Hatton and Lee Westwood.

It was eventually won by Spain’s Ryder Cup superstar Jon Rahm.

However, reports overnight suggested LIV’s main backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, are set to confirm it is pulling its multi -billion pound backing for the league at the end of the current season.

But a spokesman for JCB remained bullish that this year’s event would still be going ahead.

He said: “It’s full steam ahead as JCB prepares to host the LIV Golf event in July at the JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire.”

Tickets for the event remained on sale on Thursday at £22 for a day or £102 for the whole four days.

Hospitality packages running into thousands of pounds also remained on sale.

The latest reports on the potential funding cut for LIV - which has former Villa chief Chris Heck as one of its top executives - come after PIF announced a new strategy two weeks ago, which it said would focus on more sustainable investments.

LIV was founded in 2021 and caused a huge schism in the game, as some of its highest profile stars defected from the US PGA Tour and DP World Tour, lured by huge contracts which were bankrolled by the Saudis.

However, it has largely failed to capture the imagination of golf fans and broadcasters, who have stayed loyal to the more established tours.

The PGA tour offered a route back from LIV for some recent major-winning stars, though only Brooks Koepka has so far taken that route back.

US star Patrick Reed has recently returned to the DP World tour as he searches for another path back to PGA Tour membership after a stint with LIV.

However, there have been reports within the last 24 hours that around a dozen current LIV players have been in touch with the DP World Tour regarding finding a route back.

LIV this week announced the postponement of its June 25-28 event in Louisiana, USA. The next event is due to take place from May 7-10 in Virginia.

Two weeks ago, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil, said in a memo to staff that the season would be uninterrupted and "full throttle."