The biggest name in YouTube golf got heat from fans for signing with LIV Golf. Now, it owes him $1.4 million.
Shiels, who has over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, signed up as LIV's first ever content partner in 2025.
Rick Shiels, a prominent YouTube golf instructor and YouTuber with more than 3 million subscribers, has faced criticism from fans after signing a deal with LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed rebel golf league. Court documents reveal that LIV Golf owes Shiels' media company, Rick Shiels Media, $1.4 million in unsecured debts. LIV Golf, which launched in 2022, has struggled to gain traction and has consistently lost money.
In April, the Saudi-backed financing entity withdrew its funding, leading to the abrupt conclusion of the 2025 LIV season. Notable players Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, who left the PGA Tour to join LIV, are each owed more than $7 million by the company. LIV CEO Scott O Neil stated that the bankruptcy filing would provide the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin a new chapter for the league.
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