LIV Golf has announced a significant agreement with a lead investor, signaling a new direction for the rival golf league that would allow it to operate without the backing of Saudi funding while making its players major equity holders.
Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf’s CEO, confirmed the deal, which has been approved by the league’s board.
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While the investor remains unnamed, O’Neil stated the agreement marks “the path forward for the League’s next era, driven by and for the players.”
He also indicated that LIV is receiving “strong interest” from over a dozen other parties looking to become minority investors as the league strives for long-term viability. The announcement was made on the eve of LIV Golf New York at Trump Bedminster, the penultimate individual tournament of the season.
The league is scheduled to play in Indianapolis from August 20-23, though its season-ending team championship in Michigan has been in doubt for several weeks, primarily because the course has not yet begun preparations for an event slated to start in three weeks.
Scott O’Neil announced the deal on Wednesday (Getty)
LIV Golf initially launched in 2022 with substantial financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This funding enabled the league to offer nine-figure bonuses to attract top players like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm away from the PGA Tour, alongside offering $20 million prize funds.
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However, the financial landscape shifted earlier this year when the PIF announced it would no longer fund LIV Golf after the 2026 season, leading to the cancellation of one event in New Orleans. O’Neil met with team captains on Tuesday, and DeChambeau led a player-only meeting later that afternoon, though no details were shared by those involved.
O’Neil anticipates finalizing terms with the lead investor within the next few weeks, with a target completion date in September.
The proposed “LIV Golf 2.0” plan envisions 10 team events annually, with five held in the United States and five others globally. The league also aims to stage events leading into major championships and create a schedule that allows its players to compete on other circuits.
Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, for instance, already participate in the European tour, despite the PGA Tour maintaining a one-year ban on anyone competing in LIV events.
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