LIV Golf Louisiana, which was scheduled to begin June 25, will be postponed, according to WDSU in Louisiana and Brody Miller of The Athletic. It is unclear when the tournament will take place, although an official announcement is expected on Tuesday.
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The reported postponement comes just weeks after reports emerged about LIV Golf’s financial future. Several 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 began in 2022 and has lost a significant amount of money.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil responded to the reports, writing in an email to his staff on April 15 that the league was fully funded and continuing “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full speed.” LIV Golf also held its event in Mexico City earlier this month as planned.
In the wake of reports questioning LIV’s financial future, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois publicly reached out to O’Neil to discuss 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.”
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The state of Louisiana was going to spend about $7 million to bring the LIV Golf event to New Orleans. He reportedly spent about $2 million to improve Bayou Oaks in City Park and agreed to spend another $5 million on hosting fees. Only a little over $3 million had been spent. LIV Golf will reportedly return $1.2 million to Louisiana.
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 golf course in Virginia on May 7. LIV Golf’s season will conclude with its team championship in Michigan on August 27-30.