LIV Golf begins laying off employees while restructuring without Saudi funding

LIV Golf has announced it will be laying off employees next week as the league begins to downsize operations without Saudi Arabian funding. The reduction in staff is a result of the league's pursuit of an agreement with a lead investor to reshape LIV Golf for the upcoming year. It was not specified how many employees are being laid off.

The fifth season of LIV Golf concluded last week outside Indianapolis, one week earlier than planned. The league's CEO, Scott O'Neill, informed employees that their jobs would end next week, in the first week of September. LIV had learned in April that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia would end its financial backing after this season.

The league had hoped to hire back some employees if they secured their agreement with the lead investor and the new league, LIV 2.0, took shape. O'Neill made the announcement after coming to terms with a lead investor, believed to be BC Partners, for LIV 2.0. The league's shortest season since its inception in 2022 saw a loss of events in New Orleans and the team championship in Michigan, with the team title merged into the Indiana event.

The futures of its biggest names, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, remain uncertain. Rahm is still under contract, while DeChambeau started the year negotiating for a renewal. O'Neill has not ruled out filing for bankruptcy during the restructuring process. LIV already faces two lawsuits for not paying vendors for services.