BC Partners Credit, the private‑equity firm that had promised up to $300 million to launch a second incarnation of LIV Golf, announced it will no longer fund the project. The decision follows a lack of sufficient player sign‑ups for the proposed “LIV 2.0” series, which was slated to feature at least ten tournaments, a team‑based format, and equity stakes for participating golfers.
Player support fell short of expectations
Only four players, including former PGA Tour winners Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale, publicly confirmed their interest in joining LIV 2.0. While league officials had suggested that as many as 30 players might stay, the star power needed to attract sponsors and television partners never materialized.
Backer cites existing infrastructure
Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit, told a Sportico conference in September that much of the money already spent on LIV Golf had built a lasting ecosystem. “A lot of the money that was spent created the ecosystem and infrastructure that exists today. We think we can run this in a financially sustainable way because much of that spending went to getting the players, and the players are here,” he said.
Bankruptcy court shifts focus to liquidation
In a related development, Jon Rahm’s contract with LIV Golf was terminated, and a hearing that was expected to address the league’s restructuring has now moved toward a liquidation of its assets. LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 8, and the court in New Jersey is set to consider the next steps.
Saudi backing wanes
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which financed LIV Golf’s launch in 2022 and helped lure high‑profile players with nine‑figure signing bonuses, announced in April that it would cease payments after the 2026 season. The league, originally overseen by Greg Norman, has spent more than $5 billion since its inception.
European tour response
The European Tour, now operating as the DP World Tour, issued a firm ultimatum: any player who signs with LIV 2.0 will be ineligible for DP World Tour membership, effectively barring them from the Ryder Cup. Tour CEO Guy Kinnings warned that the rival league’s previous spending—reported at over $7 billion—was aimed at undermining the established tour.
Player departures continue
Several top players, including Rahm, Sergio García, Louis Oosthuizen and Tyrrell Hatton, have confirmed they will not remain with LIV Golf. Younger talent such as Spain’s David Puig and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin have also left. Brooks Koepka recently exited his LIV contract a year early, and the PGA Tour has created a pathway for his return, imposing financial penalties on those who choose to rejoin.
Future outlook
With the backer’s funding withdrawn and the league’s bankruptcy case moving toward liquidation, the future of LIV Golf appears uncertain. The final LIV event, held in August in Indianapolis and won by Michael La Sasso, marked the end of a turbulent chapter in professional golf. The league’s ambitious prize‑money model—offering purses that exceeded $20 million for individual events—has not been enough to sustain its operations without a solid roster of marquee players.
For now, the focus shifts to how the bankruptcy court will handle the league’s remaining assets and whether any portion of the LIV brand might be revived under new ownership or a different financial structure.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
