Headlines surrounded whether the tour would continue: this week, next week, until the end of the year? Everything was up in the air. Reports were that Saudi Arabia’s PIF said that it will not fund the league after shifting priorities. Then LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil sent an email to players saying that reports were false and that “our season continues exactly as planned.”

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Usually.

At any rate, the league soldered on in Mexico City where the 57 players and 13 teams competed at Chapultepec Golf Club playing for the $30 million purse. At the end of the week, LIV’s two biggest stars both made headlines on Sunday—Bryson DeChambeau because he withdrew because of an injured wrist and Jon Rahm for shooting a bogey-free 64 to run away with his fourth LIV title. He shot 21-under-par total to take home the $4 million top prize. His Legion XIII, with Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt, will split $3 million for winning the team portion. David Puig was second place, six shots back and Josele Ballester was third.

This was the second year in Mexico City and fourth overall in Mexico with the league visiting its sixth country in its first six events. The last event was nearly a month ago in South Africa as they took a break with the Masters last week. DeChambeau had won the last two events.

Up next is LIV Golf Virginia in two weeks at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, D.C.

Payday in Mexico City

INDIVIDUAL

WIN: Jon Rahm, -21, $4 million

2: David Puig, -15, $2.25 million

3: Josele Ballester, -14, $1.5 million

4: Scott Vincent, -12, $1 million

T-5: Branden Grace, -11, $615,000

T-5: Thomas Detry, -11, $615,000

T-5: Tyrrell Hatton, -11, $615,000

T-5: Tom McKibbin, -11, $615,000

T-5: Matthew Wolff, -11, $615,000

T-10: Cameron Tringale, -10, $397,500

T-10: Marc Leishman, -10, $397,500

T-12: Louis Oosthuizen, -9, $340,000

T-12: Harold Varner III, -9, $340,000

T-12: Luis Masaveu, -9, $340,000

T-15: Dean Burmester, -8, $292,500

T-15: Richard T. Lee, -8, $292,500

T-17: Dustin Johnson, -7, $260,000

T-17: Carlos Ortiz, -7, $260,000

T-17: Victor Perez, -7, $260,000

T-20: Charles Howell III, -6, $235,000

T-20: Joaquin Niemann, -6, $235,000

T-22: Minkyu Kim, -5, $210,000

T-22: Yosuke Asaji, -5, $210,000

T-22: Abraham Ancer, -5, $210,000

T-25: Ian Poulter, -4, $182,500

T-25: Byeong Hun An, -4, $182,500

T-25: Martin Kaymer, -4, $182,500

T-25: Sebastian Munoz, -4, $182,500

T-25: Brendan Steele, -4, $182,500

T-25: Laurie Canter, -4, $182,500

31: Bubba Watson, -3, $165,000

T-32: Sam Horsfield, -2, $155,000

T-32: Caleb Surratt, -2, $155,000

T-32: Peter Uihlein, -2, $155,000

T-35: Lee Westwood, -1, $145,000

T-35: Paul Casey, -1, $145,000

T-35: Elvis Smylie, -1, $145,000

38: Adrian Meronk, E, $140,000

T-39: Sergio Garcia, +2, $133,750

T-39: Charl Schwartzel, +2, $133,750

T-39: Younghan Song, +2, $133,750

T-39: Cameron Smith, +2, $133,750

T-43: Talor Gooch, +3, $128,500

T-43: Anthony Kim, +3, $128,500

45: Richard Bland, +4, $127,000

T-46: Thomas Pieters, +5, $75,333

T-46: Anirban Lahiri, +5, $75,333

T-46: Lucas Herbert, +5, $75,333

T-49: Travis Smyth, +6, $50,000

T-49: Jason Kokrak, +6, $50,000

T-49: Miguel Tabuena, +6, $50,000

T-52: Danny Lee, +7, $50,000

T-52: Graeme McDowell, +7, $50,000

54: Bjorn Hellgren, +8, $50,000

55: Michael LaSasso, +9, $50,000

56: Ben Campbell, +11, $50,000

57: Luis Carrera, +3 (final round only), $50,000

WD: Bryson DeChambeau (before final round)

TEAM

WIN: Legion XIII, -45, $3 million

2: Fireballs, -36, $1.5 million

3: Souther Guards, -26, $900,000

4: Torque, -22, $700,000

5: HyFlyers, -17, $650,000

6: Majesticks, -11, $600,000

7: 4Aces, -10, $550,000

8: Cleeks, -7. $500,000

9: RangeGoats, -5, $450,000

10: Ripper, -4, $400,000

11: Korean GC, E, $300,000

12: Crushers, +1, $250,000

13: Smash, +7, $200,000

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The post Here’s the prize money payout at 2026 LIV Golf Mexico City appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Rahm’s six-shot victory at Chapultepec Golf Club ended a week in which reports surfaced that LIV’s financiers, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, were on the verge of withdrawing their financial backing after the 2026 season.

Those reports came after the Public Investment Fund released a new investment strategy.

“The 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximising impact, raising the efficiency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence,” the PIF said in a release.

There was speculation about the future of the remaining eight events of LIV’s season before league sources told Golf Digest on Wednesday that funding and operations would continue for 2026.

Earlier in the week, during an interview with British broadcaster TNT, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil was asked about future funding. One of his answers included the line, “The reality is you’re funded through the season and then you work like crazy to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.”

Before the final round, LIV posted to social media that it would return to Mexico City and that tickets would be on sale soon.

The overall future of the league did not seem to affect competitive play as Rahm strode easily to his second win of the season, which comes in addition to three runner-up finishes. Rahm, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, carded a bogey-free final-round seven-under 64 to finish at 21 under. Rahm’s fellow Spaniard David Puig was 15 under, while their countryman, Josele Ballester, was third at 14 under.

Rahm’s 64 was set up by an astonishing, 390-yard drive on the short par-4 third that nestled to tap-in distance for eagle. He never looked back.

390 YARDS TO 3 FEET @JonRahmOfficial drives the green 390-yards away and sinks the eagle putt to lead by 4 #LIVGolfMexicoCity | @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/b8EVFtdqky

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 19, 2026

“Obviously a massive bonus to hit a drive to tap-in in any conditions anywhere ever,” Rahm said. “That was huge and kind of freed me up a little bit to play the next few holes still aggressive because Puig was five or six under through six, seven holes.”

Rahm said he was in disbelief given he opened last week’s Masters with a 78 and battled just to make the cut at Augusta National.

“If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played,” Rahm said. “Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday.”

The former World No.1 said he was battling a swing issue that clicked before the final round at the Masters.

“Yeah [my caddie] and I nearly got in a heated argument on Saturday on the putting green at Augusta when he was trying to explain something and I wasn’t fully understanding,” Rahm said. “Once it clicked what he was trying to say and what I needed to work on that range session Saturday afternoon, it was so much better. Sunday at Augusta I played much better golf, and it’s only gotten a little bit easier since then.

“It’s not always the easiest to have a swing thought while playing, but this one obviously seemed to work out.”

Given LIV Golf now receives Official World Golf Ranking points, World No. 31 Rahm was projected to ascend back into the top 20.

Runner up put Puig, who separately won the DP World Tour’s Australian PGA Championship in December, is within striking distance of a U.S. Open exemption. The USGA will award the top two points earners (not already exempt) spots in the US Open—one from LIV’s final 2025 standings and the other to a player from top three of the 2026 individual standings through May 18.

Puig has one more start—LIV Golf Virginia—to wrap it up.

“With that second place, hopefully I’m a little closer to the top 60 [on the OWGR], as well, in case that exemption doesn’t come through,” Puig said. “But I think about all the time. Playing majors is just amazing.”

While the final round offered a runaway victory for Rahm, there was some drama in the form of two-time U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau withdrawing prior to the final round due to a wrist injury.

“I experienced some discomfort in my wrist during yesterday’s round,” DeChambeau said via social media. “Not how I wanted this week to go.

“I’m going to take a few days to get evaluated and hope to be ready for LIV Golf Virginia.”

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Here’s the prize money payout at 2026 LIV Golf Mexico City

It is the fifth time the Spaniard has held the 54-hole lead on the LIV Golf League circuit and he will once again be the man to catch on Sunday.

Rahm will be joined in the final group by Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who carded a five-under 66 to move into solo second on 12 under. It marks the first time the pair have been grouped together in the final round since joining LIV Golf ahead of the 2024 season.

Tom McKibbin

A further shot back, Tom McKibbin is tied for third at 11 under alongside Branden Grace, leaving both players firmly within striking distance heading into the final round. McKibbin’s position means three Legion XIII players sit inside the top three on the leaderboard.

Just behind them, a group of five players are tied at 10 under, including Harold Varner III, Josele Ballester, David Puig, Scott Vincent and Matthew Wolff, ensuring a tightly packed chasing group with plenty of scoring potential on a course that has already produced low numbers.

Puig delivered the standout performance of the third round, firing a nine-under 62 to surge up the leaderboard. The Spaniard’s round left him just one shot shy of the course record.

Rahm’s consistency has been a key feature of his week, with the Legion XIII captain extending his run to eight consecutive rounds in the 60s. He has now broken 70 in 21 of his 23 rounds this season.

Legion XIII also hold a commanding advantage in the team event, taking a 15-shot lead into the final round as they look to convert their strong position into victory.

MORE: LIV Golf CEO says league has money for rest of season

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The weird week with LIV Golf got weirder. As if that was possible.

Late Tuesday reports started to leak saying that Saudi Arabia’s PIF was going to stop funding the LIV Golf League. Its CEO Scott O’Neil sent an email to players saying that was not the case and that, as a startup, there are always unexpected issues and that they plan on continuing this week in Mexico City and through the end of the year.

Many were anxious to see how it’d go Thursday at Chapultepec Golf Club, if all 57 players would play, if there would be anyone who withdrew. Everyone showed, everyone played.

But then it got weird.

In the opening commentators Arlo White and David Feherty discussed the reports of their league’s demise.

“There’s still some writers and broadcasters who take pride in their work, but this generation has spawned a bunch of fast typists that consider themselves to be experts,” Feherty said. “And evidently they’re not.”

White chimed in: “Reports of the imminent demise of the LIV Golf League were, in fact, greatly exaggerated. It must be exhausting trying to will the LIV Golf League out of existence. Take the day off everybody. Enjoy the golf.”

But here’s the thing, no one could enjoy the golf because roughly 10 minutes later it went to black on both the Fox Sports app and YouTube and stayed there for more than 100 minutes while playing elevator music. They went for so long, live golf still was not being shown at the time of this posting, although the music had changed to more of a Game of Thrones feel.

RELATED: ‘Bombshell’ LIV Golf announcement imminent, report claims

Joaquin Niemann, the defending champion in Mexico, aced his first hole of the tournament, the par-3 fourth hole. A few minutes later, fade to black. On YouTube, commenters were having a field day with the fact that technical difficulties happened for so long just a day after there were reports of the league nearing its end.

Yes, it’s been a weird week with LIV Golf. But there are still three days remaining in their work week. Plenty of time to get weirder.

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With dance music blaring, live visual effects erupting and Mexico City fans standing almost on top of the tee box at the par-3 18th at Club Golf Chapultepec, Joaquin Niemann’s path to earning a start at the U.S. Open was unique.

For his last swing of the week at LIV Golf Mexico City, the Chilean struck an iron shot that flirted with a disastrous bounce back into a water hazard. Instead, the ball hopped forward onto the green and, after Niemann drained the birdie putt, he secured a three-shot victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Lucas Herbert. He also locked up a start at June’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club—the first pathway from LIV Golf to a major championship in the league’s three-year timeline.

“I was able to hit great shots and finish on 18 with a little bit of style, too, having the crowds in the background,” Niemann said of his fifth career LIV victory.

RELATED: Here’s the prize money payout for each player at LIV Golf Mexico City

The 26-year-old Niemann led LIV’s individual standings before Mexico City, having won twice this season. A win at Club de Golf Chapultepec—a former PGA Tour host course that sits at 7,800 feet above sea level — ensured a lead that couldn’t be chased down at next week’s event in Korea.

The ticket to Oakmont had been a carrot dangling for LIV players who are not already exempt into the majors since the USGA announced in February that the leading points scorer on the LIV standings through May 18 would be offered a U.S. Open spot. The Open Championship is also offering a place at Royal Portrush in July.

Niemann, a winner across the PGA and DP World tours who joined LIV in the fall of 2022, joked about the relief of not having to tee up in 36-hole qualifying for the U.S. Open. That was an avenue some LIV players had to take in 2023 and 2024. Niemann missed a playoff at last year’s final qualifying by one shot.

CHAMPION IN MEXICO CITY @joaconiemann claims his 5th LIV Golf League title #LIVGolfMexicoCity @torquegc_ pic.twitter.com/aLfjttwjeG

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 27, 2025

“My team was asking me to sign up for the qualifier and the sectional, and I wasn’t really into that, so more than anything I’m grateful that I’m not playing 36 holes on a Monday after a tournament,” Nieman said after his win.

Ironically, the man who opened the door Sunday for Niemann to walk through was the reigning U.S. Open champion, DeChambeau. Leading by one shot going into the final round in Mexico, DeChambeau continued his final-round struggles—following a 75 on Sunday at the Masters—with an even-par 71 at Chapultepec.

Niemann started the final round two shots behind playing partner DeChambeau but grabbed his third victory in six events of the season following wins at Adelaide and Singapore. He produced seven birdies and a lone bogey for a six-under 65.

“I knew I needed to do something special with Bryson how he’s been playing and Cam [Smith] the calibre of player he is,” Niemann said. “It was a really exciting Sunday for me to be with them in the last group, especially in Mexico. I was fitting in pretty well with the crowd; they were giving me a lot of energy.”

DeChambeau was relegated to T-2 alongside Australian Lucas Herbert. In the team component, Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII won at 28 under while Smith’s Ripper GC was second at 26 under and Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC third at 21 under.

One scene in particular underlined DeChambeau’s round on Sunday. At the par-4 13th tee, which at 462 yards he can tackle with a driver and sand wedge before altitude is factored in, DeChambeau swung so hard he lost his balance. He blocked his drive out of bounds and took a double-bogey 6. After a bogey on the next hole, he never recovered.

Herbert came from the clouds with a 10-under 61 that equalled the course record set by Rahm in 2020.

“It was one of those rounds where it all just clicks for you,” Herbert said.

It all clicked for Niemann, who was more impressed with another personal milestone than becoming the first LIV player to earn a direct path into a major: his mother was in the gallery at Chapultepec.

“As a professional, she hadn’t seen me win on the PGA Tour and not here [LIV], either,” he said, “so it was pretty special.”

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Joaquin Niemann shot a final-round 65 to come from behind and top Bryson DeChambeau in the final round at the Club de Golf Chapultapec. Niemann took home the customary $4 million for his victory from the overall $20 million purse. DeChambeau (even-par 71) tied Lucas Herbert (10-under 61) for second place, three behind Niemann. Niemann now has such an insurmountable lead in LIV Golf’s individual standings that he’s assured of earning the league’s exemption into the U.S. Open later this summer at Oakmont.

RELATED: Grinding in the Gulf with Phil Mickelson’s protégé

Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team won the team title and now tops the league’s team standings. Rahm finished in fourth place and still has not finished outside the top 10 in every LIV Golf event he’s ever played. Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs are second in team points.

Next up for LIV Golf: South Korea next week to play at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club.

Here is the rundown of what each player earned in Mexico City.

INDIVIDUAL

WIN: Joaquin Niemann, -16, $4 million

T-2: Lucas Herbert, -13, $1.875 million

T-2: Bryson DeChambeau, -13, $1.875 million

4: Jon Rahm, -12, $1 million

T-5: Tyrrell Hatton, -11, $750,000

T-5: Cameron Smith, -11, $750,000

T-7: Bubba Watson, -9, $493,125

T-7: Sebastian Munoz, -9, $493,125

T-7: Dustin Johnson, -9, $493,125

T-7: Charl Schwartzel, -9, $493,125

T-11: Richard Bland, -7, $370,000

T-11: Caleb Surratt, -7, $370,000

T-13: David Puig, -6, $330,000

T-13: Talor Gooch, -6, $330,000

15: Thomas Pieters, -5, $300,000

16: Carlos Ortiz, -4, $285,000

T-17: Graeme McDowell, -3, $255,000

T-17: Patrick Reed, -3, $255,000

T-17: Harold Varner III, -3, $255,000

T-17: Matt Jones, -3, $255,000

21: Jinichira Kozuma, -2, $230,000

T-22: Brendan Steele, -1, $206,250

T-22: Phil Mickelson, -1, $206,250

T-22: Anirban Lahiri, -1, $206,250

T-22: Paul Casey, -1, $206,250

T-26: Branden Grace, E, $182,500

T-26: Abraham Ancer, E, $182,500

T-26: Charles Howell III, E, $182,500

T-26: Dean Burmester, E, $182,500

T-30: Fredrik Kjettrup, +1, $162,500

T-30: Luis Masaveu, +1, $162,500

T-30: Brooks Koepka, +1, $162,500

T-30: Marc Leishman, +1, $162,500

T-34: Tom McKibbin, +2, $146,250

T-34: Chieh-Po Lee, +2, $146,250

T-34: Henrik Stenson, +2, $146,250

T-34: Jason Kokrak, +2, $146,250

T-38: Peter Uihlein, +3, $138,750

T-38: Lee Westwood, +3, $138,750

40: Louis Oosthuizen, +4, $135,000

T-41: Andy Ogletree, +5, $128,500

T-41: Sam Horsfield, +5, $128,500

T-41: Kevin Na, +5, $128,500

T-41: Danny Lee, +5, $128,500

T-41: Ian Poulter, +5, $128,500

46: Cameron Tringale, +6, $125,000

T-47: Matthew Wolff, +7, $121,250

T-47: Martin Kaymer, +7, $121,250

49: Mito Pereira, +8, $60,000

50: Sergio Garcia, +9, $60,000

51: Anthony Kim, +10, $60,000

52: Adrian Meronk, +13, $50,000

53: Yubin Jang, +17, $50,000

54: John Catlin, $33,333

WD: Ben Campbell, $16,667

TEAM

WIN: Legion XIII (Rahm, Hatton, McKibbin, Surratt), -28, $3 million

2: Ripper GC (Smith, Herbert, Jones, Leishman), -26, $1.5 million

3: Torque GC (Niemann, Munoz, Ortiz, Pereira), -21, $500,000

Main Image: Hector Vivas

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Like really, really far. Don’t believe us? Just ask the granddaddy of the bomb squad himself, Phil Mickelson, who watched in awe on Thursday as Bryson DeChambeau launched multiple 400-yard missiles high into the mountain air.

RELATED: Grinding in the Gulf with Phil Mickelson’s protégé

Bryson is driving over 400yds… The ball flies further at 8000ft pic.twitter.com/x8E6f1VSyc

— Crushers GC (@Crushers_GC) April 24, 2025

RELATED: Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2025 LIV Golf Mexico City event

“That’s very sexy” Mickelson said as DeChambeau showed him his 199-mph ball speed, 2500-rpm spin rate and 407-yard carry on the launch monitor. A few weeks shy of his 55th birthday, Phil Mickelson can’t move it like that anymore, but it still takes game to recognise game.

I’m in Mexico City HITTING BOMBS!!
If you’re in doubt, check this out! #hyflyers#forwellness pic.twitter.com/fGtZbKos6B

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 24, 2025

Still, as good as the driver looks for the ‘gram, you need more than that to win a professional golf tournament. DeChambeau proved at the Masters earlier this month. The Crushers GC captain drove the ball well all week, finding himself in the final pairing with Rory McIlroy on Sunday, but poor distance control with his wedges cost him dearly down the stretch. It doesn’t matter if you only have 175 in if you can’t hit your number.

It remains to be seen whether DeChambeau has tuned up that part of his game in the two week since, but judging by this video, it will be fun to watch either way.

Main Image: Mike Stobe

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