LIV Golf Loses $300M Backing as Stars Withhold Commitment
WHO:
CNN - LIV was originally run by Greg Norman.
CNN - LIV also lost young players David Puig of Spain and Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland.
CNN - LIV lawyer Matthew Williams of Gibson Dunn announced the league’s decision in bankruptcy court.
CNN - LIV’s final event was won by Michael La Sasso; he later failed to advance past the second stage of European Tour Q-school.
CNN - Guy Kinnings, European Tour CEO, said LIV had spent “over $7 billion” and cited one of its aims as being to “‘destroy the DP World Tour.’”
Yahoo Sports - Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell have also announced they are finished with LIV Golf.
Yahoo Sports - Bryson DeChambeau said on the “Figuring Out” podcast that “LIV 2.0” made “full financial sense” and could exist “forever.”
Daily Mail Sports - LIV Golf, BC Partners, and star players including Bryson DeChambeau are involved in the proposed relaunch funding withdrawal.
Fox News - London-based private equity firm BC Partners reportedly withdrew its plan to fund “LIV 2.0.”
Fox News - Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) halted funding for LIV Golf; PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan resigned from LIV’s board after the decision.
Fox News - LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said the calendar would not change after PIF withdrew funding.
Fox News - Jon Rahm said the terms of “LIV 2.0” were “unacceptable” and that he would not participate. Tyrrell Hatton, Louis Oosthuizen, and Sergio Garcia also declined to participate.
Fox News - Bankruptcy filings list unpaid compensation owed to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Cam Smith.
Fox News - Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed left LIV Golf and rejoined the PGA Tour.
Reddit Sports - A post attributed to sources reported that BC Partners pulled out of a LIV Golf financing deal.
WHAT:
CNN - The Asian Tour renewed its alliance with the PGA Tour and European Tour in July.
CNN - LIV’s bankruptcy petition was filed on September 8.
CNN - Williams said LIV was “not currently proceeding with the LIV 2.0 plan” and was “toggling to a value-maximizing wind-down in their business.”
CNN - LIV’s final event took place in Indianapolis.
CNN - The Asian Tour renewed its alliance with the PGA Tour and European Tour.
CNN - LIV 2.0 proposed player equity and individual-event purses worth more than half the $20 million purses offered when LIV began in 2022.
Yahoo Sports - The Financial Times reported that BC Partners dropped its plan to fund LIV Golf’s transition to “LIV 2.0.”
Yahoo Sports - Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had reportedly poured more than $5 billion into LIV Golf.
Yahoo Sports - BC Partners’ proposed roughly $300 million investment was conditional on meeting certain requirements, including retaining top talent.
Yahoo Sports - Jon Rahm announced his departure from LIV Golf and said he would accept a Brooks Koepka-style PGA Tour return deal if offered.
Yahoo Sports - DeChambeau won twice on LIV Golf during the season and finished second in its season-long race.
Yahoo Sports - DeChambeau missed the cut at the first three major championships of the season, then finished tied for 14th at the British Open.
Yahoo Sports - Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return deal reportedly cost him an estimated $85 million in earnings.
Daily Mail Sports - BC Partners reportedly withdrew plans to provide $300 million for a LIV Golf relaunch, and the league is set to wind down.
Fox News - BC Partners reportedly pulled out because of insufficient player interest and commitment; LIV Golf’s future was described as depending on the proposed “LIV 2.0” restructuring.
Fox News - LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey. Its bankruptcy filings show millions of dollars in unpaid player compensation.
Fox News - LIV spent an estimated $5 billion to $8 billion between 2021 and 2026.
Fox News - The league laid off most operational staff, event contractors were awaiting payment, and the Premier Golf League sued LIV, alleging breach of confidence and conspiracy.
Fox News - LIV’s scheduled championship weekend was canceled and held a week earlier than originally planned.
Fox News - The Athletic reported that LIV was pivoting toward a wind-down and that a bankruptcy-court hearing was expected to begin the liquidation process.
WHERE:
Fox News - LIV filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey; the expected hearing was in a New Jersey bankruptcy court.
Fox News - BC Partners is based in London.
WHEN:
CNN - PIF said it would stop paying for LIV after the 2026 season.
Yahoo Sports - BC Partners’ proposed funding was intended for LIV Golf in 2027.
WHY:
CNN - LIV is winding down rather than launching a new version because it lacks financial support.
Yahoo Sports - BC Partners’ proposed investment depended on LIV retaining top talent, a condition the league struggled to meet.
Daily Mail Sports - BC Partners withdrew its proposed funding after star players, including DeChambeau, did not commit to the relaunch.
Fox News - PIF stopped funding to redirect money toward domestic projects and manage financial pressures from the regional war with Iran.
Fox News - BC Partners no longer believed LIV could form a viable league, according to The Athletic.
HOW:
Yahoo Sports - Patrick Reed spent the 2026 season playing on the DP World Tour to earn his PGA Tour card back.
CNN - The PGA Tour created a route for Brooks Koepka to return with one year remaining on his LIV deal, subject to financial penalties.
Yahoo Sports - DeChambeau could seek a PGA Tour card by playing a full season on the DP World Tour.
Fox News - LIV sought new investors after PIF stopped funding; its proposed restructuring plan was called “LIV 2.0.”
Fox News - The DP World Tour said it would not allow LIV players to compete. European golfers must be DP World Tour members to play in the Ryder Cup.
Fox News - The article reported that Europe-based golfers were leaving LIV for the DP World Tour.
LIV Golf is winding down after Saudi Arabia’s investment fund withdrew financial support. A proposed $300 million relaunch collapsed as star players declined to commit. The league filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey, with unpaid player compensation reported.