Time is running out on LIV Golf 2.0. The organization that is trying to save the once-wealthy league is dealing with a host of problems, with the most glaring being a string of financial issues, a host of legal problems and players abandoning ship.
It is that last one that might sink a re-birth of the upstart league. BC Partners, the private equity firm that has offered up a $300 million bankruptcy bailout for LIV, has stated that it would need to see commitments from between 30 and 40 players by Oct. 25. While that date has passed, it’s likely organizers will get until the end of the week to see if it can coerce some players to sign up.
Without a schedule, a purse, a format, or an organization, it won’t be easy.
Here is what we know at this point. Richard Bland, Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele, Ben Campbell and Victor Perez are fully committed to returning to LIV.
That’s it at this point. Five players.
There are plenty of golfers who have officially waved farewell. At the head of that list is Jon Rahm, who made a lot of money on LIV but also left being owed millions. Others who have parted ways in recent days include Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, David Puig, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Louis Oosthuizen.
Then there are two groups of players that are still trying to untangle matters from the first LIV before agreeing to the second one. That includes one with Dustin Johnson, and it is seeking severance deals for contracted payments that were never received, according to a report in The Athletic. The 11 players are collectively owed more than $100 million but haven’t yet said they are leaving.
The other is a pack of golfers behind Bryson DeChambeau. He has been the biggest proponent of rebuilding the collapsed league. His previous contract expired at the end of last season and, despite being a creditor owed $5 million, he seems to be a key cog behind the possible re-birth of LIV.
It’s no understatement to suggest that if DeChambeau leaves, LIV Golf can turn out the lights.
Player retention is huge, but there is another dilemma facing LIV that gets little to no attention: recruitment.
With so many top players leaving LIV for greener pastures, who is going to fill out the rest of the field? Which player who has not teed it up with LIV in the past would consider doing so in the future?
When LIV began in 2022, players flocked over to get a cut of the money being given like Halloween candy. That will not happen this time and the prize money is certainly going to drop. So, what is the recruiting tactic now?
Would an up-and-coming golfer finishing a great collegiate career give LIV the slightest glance? Is there a veteran willing to risk his PGA Tour pension for the new LIV?
In 2028, the top players in the game will be playing on the PGA Tour’s revamped leagues. The Championship Series will see 120 golfers playing for big bucks. Another 150 or so will be a level lower on the Challenger Series, which offers up less money but without any legal action necessary to claim it. Less travel and secure prize money would be attractive over what LIV can offer.
Even if LIV can keep the likes of DeChambeau and Cam Smith, there is still the minor problem of a schedule. To date, LIV has six stops listed on its website, none of which are in the United States. They are in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Africa, Mexico City, and Korea.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said recently that the tournament will not go ahead unless LIV Golf can guarantee the big names that played Down Under in previous years. A decision is expected before the end of November, although it may come before that.
Over the next month, at the most, the future of LIV Golf will be determined. If it can somehow get out from under the legal issues and entice a lineup of notable players, it may have a chance. But at this point, is that worth it?
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