Long live LIV?
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced in April that it would stop funding LIV Golf following the 2026 season. With the sole funder of the breakaway circuit cutting off the money spigot, it was speculated that LIV, or at least the current version of it, would cease to exist beyond this year.
On Wednesday, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil halted that speculation.
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Speaking ahead of this week’s LIV New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster, O’Neil announced that an investor has been secured to keep the circuit afloat. While O’Neil did not divulge any specific details about the unknown investor, he did share an incredibly important fact about the next phase of LIV Golf and its players.
“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the League’s next era, driven by and for the players,” O’Neil said.
“Notably, our next chapter will make our players the majority equity holders in LIV Golf, a first for a major global sports league,” he continued, while stating the goal is to enter a finalized transaction in September.
Aside from players holding a majority of the equity, it is unclear what LIV Golf looks like, and even more unclear which players will be competing, beginning in 2027. The plan for the 2027 LIV schedule is for it to feature 10 events, with five in the United States and five across the globe.
The announcement that LIV will be around beyond 2026 comes as the unknowns still continue to add up regarding whether or not the LIV Team Championship, set for Aug. 27-30, will even be contested. The update on 2027 investments does not appear to have any bearing on the Team Championship.
It was reported at the end of July that the season finale is expected to be canceled after “multiple contractors” told Flushing It Golf that their travel and accommodations have been canceled and that “money is also owed.”
LIV golfer and former major champion Martin Kaymer went on the record with Today’s Golfer that the team championship was “highly unlikely” to take place.
A source with knowledge of the ongoing situation shared with OutKick on July 29 that LIV was continuing to have positive discussions with prospective investors for LIV Golf 2.0 while working to secure funding for the circuit’s future and long-term sustainability.
Based on the league’s announcement on Wednesday, the discussions with prospective investors were, in fact, positive.
Read the full article here