What next for LIV Golf and Saudi investment in sport?

The launch of LIV Golf in 2022, backed by Saudi Arabia's powerful Public Investment Fund (PIF), sent shockwaves through the world of sport. Many of golf's biggest names, such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, signed up to LIV, and were rewarded with hugely lucrative prize money - while others, including Rory McIlroy, fiercely criticised the new competition.However, LIV's big spending may be set to come to an abrupt halt. The PIF announced it would withdraw its funding at the end of the 2026 season, stating: "The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy." The news has left LIV facing an uncertain future - while also leading to speculation about whether Saudi investment in sports such as boxing and football could also fall away.Iain Carter, the BBC's golf correspondent, tells Ade Adedoyin why PIF's decision to withdraw will have a big impact on what happens next in the sport.Simon Chadwick is a professor of Afro-Eurasian sport and co-editor of GeoSport - a newsletter that looks at sport from a geopolitical angle. He explains why the region got involved in sport and why it remains committed to sports such as football and Formula 1.Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore