LIV Golf event in Louisiana postponed amid growing fears of league collapse
Updated . First published at
LIV Golf has postponed their maiden trip to New Orleans amid growing concerns about the future of the Saudi-backed league.
And the decision flies in the face of LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil's claims that they would push forward "exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle".
WDSU, a local news broadcaster in New Orleans, was first to report the event, scheduled for June 25-28, was going to be postponed until October due to LIV's financial issues.
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Hours later, the league confirmed the postponement, although stopped short of a guarantee the event would go ahead at all.
"We have made the strategic decision to explore moving LIV Golf Louisiana to a new window," LIV Golf said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
"This shift allows us to avoid the peak summer heat and the crowded global sports calendar while ensuring the course is in the championship condition our fans and players expect.
"We are grateful for the continued partnership and flexibility of the state of Louisiana as we work together to deliver a world-class debut this (autumn).
"Our team is focused on maintaining the strong momentum of the 2026 season and we look forward to sharing finalised dates in the near future."
The original dates for the event at Bayou Oaks at City Park, located in the city's north, fall during the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. New Orleans is not hosting matches.
Cameron Smith during the first round of the LIV Mexico event earlier this month. Getty
The postponement means LIV Golf would not have any tournaments in the USA for three months between the Virginia event on May 7-10 at Trump National until the August 6-9 tournament at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey.
Louisiana officials said last August when the tournament was announced they had agreed to pay LIV Golf $7.5 million and spend an additional $2.2 million on improvements to the Bayou Oaks course. They have already paid LIV about $1.5, which would be refunded.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund has spent $7 billion building LIV Golf since it sensationally jumped on the scene in 2021.
Cameron Smith is the leading Australian player on LIV's roster and his future would be under a dark cloud if the tour folded.
Now they appear set to pull the rug out, amid a pivot towards artificial intelligence investment.
This leaves the future of LIV Golf in significant doubt, despite O'Neil's calls for calm.
Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot from the 18th tee during day two of the LIV Golf Team Championship. Getty
"While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass," he told ESPN in March.
"We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organisation that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before."
With this postponement, there will be a significant hole in the schedule, with no LIV events between June 7 and July 23.
All eyes will be on the events in Spain and the UK in June and July and whether they still go ahead.
South Australia has an agreement in place with LIV Golf to host events through 2031.
- With AP