The Japan Times - Rookie La Sasso wins LIV season-ender as tour's future in doubt

Questions remain if and how the divisive LIV Tour -- which for years lured golf's top stars with billions of Saudi dollars -- will return next season, having lost its Middle Eastern funding.

The fate of star players like Rahm and DeChambeau is critical and remains uncertain, with speculation swirling that many could seek to return to the PGA Tour.

"I think there's a lot of potential moving forward. It's been an interesting ride, that's for sure," said DeChambeau, after finishing the season-ender joint-third.

"Everything that we've gone through, and the tough moments that we've had... it's made us stronger.

"I have great thoughts about what could happen next year. I wish I could be more upfront about it."

The 2026 season ended with 22-year-old La Sasso, the youngest player on the tour and now its youngest-ever winner, executing a perfect chip on the final hole for a tap-in birdie and victory.

He ended on 18-under with a round of 65, a stroke clear of a surging Rahm, who finished a round of 63 with a costly bogey on his final hole.

DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia finished third on 16-under par.

Spain's Rahm had already clinched his third consecutive season-long points title.

Rahm's Legion XIII also sealed the season-long team championship, for a second year running.

Whether Rahm will have an opportunity to defend those accolades remains in serious doubt.

LIV Golf began in 2022 and signed some of the sport's top names from the traditional PGA Tour, which banned LIV golfers from its events. But LIV earlier this year lost the backing of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

LIV Golf's team championship event in Michigan, which had been scheduled for next week, was canceled, meaning the Indianapolis event concluded the 2026 campaign.

The Indianapolis prize money pot was roughly half the usual LIV amount, with $10 million spread across players including just over $2 million for the winner.

Organizers insist a "LIV 2.0" will emerge with a slimmed-down schedule, smaller prizes and new investors.

"Ultimately, I'm proud of the fact of what we've done. The good, and some of the bad, that we've unfortunately had. Things that have occurred," said DeChambeau.

"I'm going to be real with it. You know, not everything was perfect. But for the most part, we've done a solid job.

"And if there's one thing that I could say, it is, we did something different in the game of golf, and I'm proud of that.

He added: "I think there's something fun coming."

K.Tanaka--JT