LIV Golf confirmed this week that a wave of employee layoffs will take effect in the first week of September. The league is entering a new phase—referred to as LIV 2.0—after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia announced it would cease its financial support at the end of the 2025 season.
Why the cuts are happening
The organization filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice in July, indicating that layoffs were likely once the Saudi funding commitment concluded. The league’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, said the company is “scaling back operations as we transition to the next chapter of LIV Golf and work toward making LIV 2.0 a reality.”
Potential for rehiring
While the exact number of jobs being eliminated was not disclosed, LIV Golf indicated that some positions could be restored if a deal with a lead investor—widely reported to be private‑equity firm BC Partners—materializes and the new league structure takes shape.
Impact on players and schedule
The league’s fifth season, its shortest since its 2022 launch, concluded early in Indianapolis after losing events in New Orleans and the team championship in Michigan. The futures of marquee players such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau remain uncertain, with Rahm still under contract and DeChambeau negotiating a renewal.
English Ryder Cup veteran Tyrrell Hatton, who joined LIV in 2024, said he expects the league to be back in 2027 and will continue to split his time between LIV and the European Tour. He added that he sees no reason his participation should change in the future.
Financial outlook
O’Neil has floated a 10‑tournament schedule for the revamped league, half in the United States and half overseas, emphasizing “commercial discipline” and a more cost‑conscious approach. He has not ruled out filing for bankruptcy as part of the restructuring, and the league already faces two lawsuits over unpaid vendor invoices.
What’s next
The league aims to finalize its agreement with the lead investor by September and hopes to launch the new LIV 2.0 format for the 2026‑27 season. Until then, affected employees will receive transition support as promised by the organization.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
