LIV Golf has a deal with an unnamed new lead investor “in place” to help carry the circuit beyond 2026, according to Bob Harig of THE DAILY DRIVE. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said that LIV Golf 2.0 will “make players ‘the majority equity holder.’” The circuit is said to be “considering a bankruptcy filing, which would potentially place some of its own players who are owed money on existing contracts as creditors.” That could “lead to a situation where LIV Golf negotiates new terms with the players who are owed money, including equity in the league.” O’Neil has previously said that he has “been looking for outside investment” of more than $300M “in order to fund a new, leaner LIV Golf 2.0” that would see a “reduction in tournaments from the 14 currently on the schedule as well as smaller purses” than the $30M events now being played. A source confirmed that termination emails have been “sent to some employees, giving them 30 days notice, but that new investment could possibly impact other opportunities at the company” (THE DAILY DRIVE, 8/5). When asked whether a completed deal means that LIV Golf will have a season in 2027, O’Neil responded, “and 2028 and 2029 and 2030” (THE ATHLETIC, 8/5).
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS: GOLF’s Sean Zak notes LIV Golf will be “fundamentally scaled back and altered, from 14 events down to 10.” Half of those events will be “based internationally and called ‘Team Majors,’” while the other half will be “predominantly based in America and aligned with the weeks directly prior to major championships.” The amount of money on offer “will also change.” The expectation is that LIV’s purses will shrink to less than $20M, and perhaps even beneath $15M as it “looks to streamline its available capital entering its next season” (GOLF, 8/5). In N.Y., Mark Cannizzaro writes despite the encouraging news, a “litany of questions still persist with LIV Golf,” which has two more events scheduled before the end of the 2026 season after this week — Aug. 20-23 in Indianapolis and the season-finale team championship after that in Michigan. Numerous reports said that the Michigan event, scheduled for Aug. 27-30, “will not take place,” though neither O’Neil nor anyone associated with LIV has confirmed that (N.Y. POST, 8/5).