LIV Golf Postpones New Orleans Event
The LIV Golf Invitational Series, which began in June 2022, has postponed its scheduled event in New Orleans this June amid ongoing questions regarding its future.
State officials confirmed on Tuesday that the event will be rescheduled. reported that the Saudi Arabia-backed series is in discussions with Louisiana local authorities to move the tournament to September or October.
Sources indicate that officials preferred to avoid the peak summer heat and to ensure the Bayou Oaks course at City Park would be in optimal championship condition. LIV Golf leadership also reportedly wished to avoid a scheduling conflict with the World Cup.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois issued a joint statement noting that the state had already paid $3.2 million (£2.36 million) under its contract with LIV Golf, with $2 million (£1.47 million) invested in course upgrades. They added that LIV Golf is expected to return the remaining $1.2 million (£880,000) in state incentive funds.
"We appreciate LIV's good-faith efforts and look forward to maintaining our partnership as we continue conversations around an event later this year," said Landry and Bourgeois.
This postponement means LIV Golf will not hold any tournaments in the United States for a three-month period from 10 May until 6 August, when the tour is scheduled to visit Trump Bedminster in New Jersey.
Amid reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is preparing to end its support for the breakaway tour, this development intensifies speculation about LIV Golf's future.
Earlier this month, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil reassured players that the 2026 season would proceed "as planned and uninterrupted," despite rumours of the tour's potential collapse.
Speculation Over PIF's Support and LIV Golf's Future
Discussion about LIV Golf's future escalated earlier this month as the tour prepared for its latest event in Mexico. Multiple media outlets across golf, sports, and finance sectors reported the tour's imminent closure. However, CEO O'Neil countered these reports with a firm email to staff affirming business continuity.
Notably, O'Neil's communication focused solely on the 2026 season and did not address the longer-term outlook.
Players were informed last month that funding was secured until 2032, but well-informed sources in European golf told they believe PIF is withdrawing financial support. One source expressed the expectation that 2026 would be LIV's final season, while another suggested the leadership might be attempting to convince itself that alternative revenue streams could be found.
Many insiders, as one summarized, anticipate the tour may dissolve rapidly.
The LIV project, which shifted to a more traditional 72-hole format this year, has been financed by substantial investment from PIF. The total investment exceeded $5 billion (£3.8 billion) following a fresh capital injection of $266.7 million earlier this year.
The tour's net losses outside the US rose to $462 million (£340 million) in 2024, bringing total losses since its 2021 inception to over $1.1 billion (£810 million). Given the significant funds allocated to the US operations, total losses are expected to reach several billion dollars.
'Significant Hole in LIV's Schedule' - Analysis
This postponement creates a significant gap in LIV Golf's schedule during the peak golf season and adds to the uncertainty surrounding the breakaway league's future.
The development comes just 12 days after CEO O'Neil promised the tour would continue uninterrupted and at "full throttle" amid rumours of Saudi Arabia withdrawing funding.
O'Neil has acknowledged the search for additional financial backing beyond 2026, but failing to deliver on the published schedule may undermine confidence among potential new investors.
With no tournament in New Orleans, LIV Golf faces a gap between 7 June and 23 July without an event, disrupting momentum in what was planned as a 14-tournament season.
This idle period includes major tournaments such as the US Open and the Open Championship, affecting preparation for leading players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
Rahm is currently unable to compete on the DP World Tour due to unpaid fines for participating in LIV events without official release. He is also suspended from the PGA Tour. Furthermore, the Saudi-backed International Series on the Asian Tour has no events scheduled between mid-June and October.
LIV players including Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, and Laurie Canter have accepted deals with the DP World Tour to retain membership of the European circuit, providing them with playing opportunities during this critical period in the golfing calendar.
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