LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway professional golf league, has notified most of its staff that they will be laid off in early September as it scales back operations following the expiration of financial support from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF had invested more than $5 billion into the league since its launch in 2022 but announced in April that it would cease funding after the 2026 season, citing changes in investment priorities and broader economic conditions.
The league employs over 300 staff members across the United States and the United Kingdom. LIV Golf has expressed gratitude to its employees for their contributions and affirmed a commitment to support those affected during the transition. Despite the layoffs, LIV remains optimistic about its future. The organization has signed a non-binding term sheet with a prospective lead investor, believed to be BC Partners, aiming to secure new funding that would enable a restructured version of the league, referred to as LIV 2.0, to launch in 2027.
LIV Golf’s leadership is working toward establishing this next phase, which is expected to feature a truncated calendar of approximately 10 events split evenly between the United States and international locations. However, no formal deal has been finalized, and the league faces uncertainties, especially following the departure of high-profile players such as Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, who have opted to return to more established tours like the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. The DP World Tour has indicated that players who remain with LIV Golf should not expect conditional releases, suggesting possible fines if they participate in LIV events while also under the DP World Tour’s membership.
The league’s scale-back comes after LIV cancelled two events during the 2026 season, including the planned season finale in Michigan. Last week’s tournament in Indianapolis may have been the final LIV event under the current model. CEO Scott O’Neil acknowledged the challenges faced over the season and thanked staff for their dedication and work ethic.
LIV Golf launched in 2022 with the goal of challenging traditional golf tours by offering large signing bonuses and highly competitive prize money to attract top talent. Yet, shifting financial backing and player defections have complicated its prospects. While the future of LIV Golf remains uncertain, the organization continues to pursue a path forward with a leaner operational model and hopes to reinstate more staff and players if LIV 2.0 materializes.