{
  "id": 18406047,
  "title": "LIV Golf winding down operations after financing deal falls apart",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-winding-down-operations-after-financing-deal-falls-apart-18406047",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-05T23:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/11/06/brazil-revels-in-return-of-two-home-drivers-to-f1-grid-at-interlagos"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LIV Golf, a breakaway golf circuit that gained significant attention in 2022, announced on Thursday that it will liquidate its operations due to the loss of big-name players and financing. The league's special committee, comprised of Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, stated that an orderly wind-down is the most responsible course of action at this time.\n\nThe future of LIV Golf had become uncertain after the Saudi Public Investment Fund reduced its financial support beyond the 2026 season. The league had secured a US$300 million potential financing deal from BC Partners for the 2027 season, but it was abandoned when several notable players decided not to commit to the circuit. BC Partners expressed disappointment over the inability to reach mutually acceptable terms among stakeholders.\n\nLeading golfers, such as Jon Rahm, departed LIV Golf after the company filed for bankruptcy protection in September. Rahm plans to play on the Europe-based DP World Tour in 2027. The PGA Tour has banned LIV Golf players from participating in their events for one year following the circuit's departure.\n\nLIV Golf made headlines when it entered the scene in June 2022, featuring star power alongside older players who signed lucrative contracts for tournaments without cuts and guaranteed paydays. The PGA Tour banned members from competing in LIV Golf events, and suspended several high-profile golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson. This led to legal battles, including an antitrust lawsuit in which DeChambeau, Mickelson, and others accused the PGA Tour of using monopoly power to penalize independent contractors.\n\nCritics argued that LIV Golf was a scheme by Saudi Arabia to enhance its reputation and mask human rights concerns, which the Saudi government denies. Former PGA Tour Policy Board member Peter Malnati stated that LIV Golf's economic model was not viable and that their approach was disruptive rather than additive to the sport. Despite the challenges, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil expressed that the league's endeavor to bring new, younger, and diverse fans to golf has been \"a round of a lifetime.\"",
  "summary": "LIV Golf’s future had been uncertain after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew financial support beyond the 2026 season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "LIV Golf is winding down operations, lawyer says in bankruptcy hearing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-is-winding-down-operations-lawyer-says-in-bankruptcy-hearing-18343477",
        "published": "2026-11-05T16:48:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "LIV Golf is winding down operations, lawyer says in bankruptcy hearing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-is-winding-down-operations-lawyer-says-in-bankruptcy-hearing",
        "published": "2026-11-05T16:48:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "LIV Golf shutting down operations, lawyer says in bankruptcy hearing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-shutting-down-operations-lawyer-says-in-bankruptcy-hearing",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:12:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "LIV Golf winding down operations after financing deal falls apart",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-winding-down-operations-after-financing-deal-falls-apart",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "LIV Golf set to wind down operations, lawyers say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/liv-golf-set-to-wind-down-operations-lawyers-say",
        "published": "2026-11-05T18:32:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Why LIV Golf, which shook up sport in 2022 with Saudi Arabia money, is winding down",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/why-liv-golf-which-shook-up-sport-in-2022-with-saudi-arabia-money-is",
        "published": "2026-11-05T18:46:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "LIV Golf to wind down operations after financing deal falls apart",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/liv-golf-to-wind-down-operations-after-financing-deal-falls-apart",
        "published": "2026-11-06T01:29:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}