LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced on Wednesday that the breakaway tour has secured a lead investor, with the agreement already signed and approved by the league’s board. O’Neil did not name the investor but said the deal signals the path forward following the withdrawal of Saudi funding. The announcement came on the eve of LIV Golf New York at Trump National Bedminster.
According to Golfweek, O’Neil confirmed that LIV players will become the majority equity holders in the league under the new structure — a first, he said, for any major global sports league. More than a dozen other parties are also circling as potential minority investors in a multi-partner model.
The Deal in Numbers
The numbers are significant. GolfMagic reported that the investment is believed to be worth at least $250m, citing a prior New York Post report. O’Neil took the product to market following the 2026 Masters, aiming to raise $350m to keep the tour operating. The PIF had pumped an estimated $5-8bn into LIV since its 2022 launch, then formally ended its financial commitment on 30 April, stating the investment was no longer consistent with its current strategy.
O’Neil expects to finalise terms with the lead investor within the coming weeks, targeting a completed transaction in September.
What LIV 2.0 Looks Like
The restructured league, being referred to internally as LIV Golf 2.0, will run 10 events per year rather than the current 14. Five of those will be held in the United States. The remaining five will be staged internationally, with GolfMagic reporting the stops are planned for Australia, South Africa, England, Hong Kong, and Mexico.
Players free. That’s the other headline. Players will be permitted to compete on other tours, and both Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton already participate on the European tour, though the PGA Tour maintains a one-year ban on anyone who has played in LIV events.
Player Meetings Before the Announcement
The day before O’Neil’s statement, LIV’s team captains met with the CEO. Bryson DeChambeau then led a separate players-only session. Captain Ben An joked afterward that no confrontations occurred, according to GolfMagic. Several players had previously voiced frustration over a lack of communication, with two-time major champion Martin Kaymer telling reporters in July that the players had no clarity on whether the circuit would continue beyond 2026.
Season Finale Still in Doubt
LIV has two individual events remaining: the New York stop at Bedminster and a scheduled event in Indianapolis on 20-23 August. The season-ending team championship in Michigan remains in question, the course had not begun tournament preparations with less than three weeks to go, per the Associated Press. One earlier event in New Orleans was already cancelled.
Still unresolved. Under the new structure, players will also regain their name, image and likeness commercial rights, giving them greater control over personal sponsorship and branding.
