The golf loop will continue through the 2026 season.
It is extremely difficult for a startup sports league to compete with an established sports entity. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is pulling its funding for LIV Golf after the 2026 season. It is unclear if geopolitical events have forced the Saudis to rethink their investment into the golf tour or if it is not worth pouring money into a venture that is competing with the very well-established Professional Golf Association. LIV has been struggling in the United States despite having some big-name golfers. The LIV tour never landed a big American television network deal. The tour also pulled out of planned stop in New Orleans after the Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry invested $7 million of taxpayers money to attract the golf circuit and fixed up a New Orleans golf course. It appears the state will get back $1.2 million and maybe reschedule the tournament later this year.
LIV still has employees and golfers but it may be an uphill battle for the LIV Golf League’s new independent board to find investors who are willing to contribute money to an entity that appears to have lost money in its almost five years of existence. LIV Golf released a statement saying the league is focusing on “securing long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model.” The sports landscape is littered with failed competitors to established circuits. The last group to challenge the American and the National League of baseball was the Federal League which lasted two years, in 1914 and 1916. Some planned baseball leagues never got off the ground. The American Football League merged with the National Football League in 1966. Other leagues in football, basketball and hockey folded but saw some teams taken in by the established leagues. Startup leagues have a rough time.
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Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
