Just a few weeks after significant questions were raised about LIV Golf’s financial status and future, the league’s June event in New Orleans will be postponed, according to multiple reports.
LIV Golf Louisiana, which was set to kick off June 25, will be postponed, according to both WDSU in Louisiana and The Athletic’s Brody Miller. An official announcement is expected on Tuesday.
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A source with knowledge of LIV Golf’s operations told Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee on Monday night that the league is working with Louisiana officials to find a fall date for the event that would avoid World Cup viewership, heat challenges and ensure that the course is in appropriate condition.
The reported postponement comes just weeks after reports surfaced about LIV Golf’s financial future. Multiple media outlets reported earlier this month that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, was set to withdraw its investment in the league. Despite landing several big names in the sport — including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, among others — LIV Golf has struggled to gain traction since it started in 2022 and has lost a significant amount of money.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil countered the reports, writing in an email to his staff on April 15 that the league was fully funded and continuing on “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.” LIV Golf held its Mexico City event earlier this month as scheduled, too.
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In the wake of the reports questioning LIV’s financial future, secretary of Louisiana economic development Susan Bourgeois publicly reached out to O’Neil to talk about the New Orleans event. They spoke on Friday, according to The Athletic, and agreed to postpone the event “due to LIV Golf’s changing business model.”
The state of Louisiana was set to spend about $7 million to bring the LIV Golf event to New Orleans. It reportedly spent about $2 million to improve Bayou Oaks at City Park, and agreed to spend another $5 million in hosting fees. Only a little more than $3 million had been spent. LIV Golf is reportedly set to return $1.2 million to Louisiana.
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The New Orleans tournament was one of five LIV Golf events scheduled to be held in the United States this season. LIV Golf will hold an event at President Donald Trump’s Virginia golf course next on May 7. The LIV Golf season is set to end with its team championship event in Michigan from Aug. 27-30.
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