LIV Golf Delays 2026 New Orleans Tournament to Restructure Funding

LIV Golf has postponed its New Orleans tournament scheduled for late June 2026 at Bayou Oaks in City Park, with a formal announcement expected on Tuesday. The postponement stems from the league's need to restructure financially and secure additional funding sources, according to Louisiana state officials. 2 million hosting fee to LIV Golf, which will be returned.

Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development Susan Bourgeois spoke with LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on Friday to discuss the event, leading to an agreement to delay the June 25, 2026, competition due to the league's changing business model. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil confirmed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund would end its financial support after the 2026 season.

In an interview with TNT Sports, O’Neil stated he had a business plan to sustain the league.

"The reality is you're funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going. But that's not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of man," O’Neil said to TNT Sports.

In an internal memo, O’Neil stated that the remainder of the 2026 season would proceed exactly as planned, uninterrupted, and at full throttle.

"I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle," O’Neil wrote in the memo. The New Orleans event was set to occur between LIV Golf's Spain tournament from June 4-7 and its United Kingdom event from July 23-26.

The league's next stop is LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club in Lowes Island from May 7-10, followed by South Korea in late May.

City Park received $2 million in state funds for course improvements, and an additional $3 million was allocated as a hosting fee, though the state will recover the $1 million already sent to LIV Golf with no further expenditures. The Athletic reported hopes for a re-envisioned event in New Orleans in the fall, potentially at a smaller venue.

LIV Golf spent $1 billion on guaranteed payouts for top players in 2024, highlighting the league's high costs amid funding shifts.

The postponement follows reports that the Public Investment Fund is considering funding cuts, prompting LIV Golf to explore strategies like selling equity in its 13 teams. Players such as Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract expires at year's end, and Jon Rahm have received substantial guarantees, raising questions about future investor commitments.

Recent departures of players like Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed to the PGA Tour add to the league's challenges.

The state of Louisiana postponed the event until LIV can restructure and find new funding, as reported by WDSU.