LIV Golf in the hotseat but can't take the heat

Summer Louisiana postponement raises more questions about LIV's future; Stray Shots

Dubious postponement of Louisiana event leaves a glaring void in LIV schedule (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Something is amiss. Sure, something already was wrong behind the scenes with LIV Golf considering the recent news of the league’s Saudi Arabian funding potentially drying up. But the latest news makes that situation appear even worse.

LIV Golf announced on Tuesday that it is postponing its Louisiana event scheduled for New Orleans in late June due to its concern over heat and sporting conflicts.

Apparently the LIV hierarchy just now discovered it’s hot in the summer in New Orleans and that the World Cup will be going on?

That excuse defies belief.

And when Louisiana governor Jeff Landry began his statement on the matter by showering praise on the PGA Tour and Zurich for its just-completed tournament won by the Fitzpatrick brothers … well, that level of shade could not have been an accident.

The decision to “postpone” comes in the aftermath of reports that LIV Golf’s financial backing from the Public Investment Fund of Saudia Arabia was in danger of drying up as the PIF pivots its priorities. The league is guaranteed full funding only through the rest this year.

And yet, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil pronounced it “full speed ahead” and said its schedule would played uninterrupted.

Now it’s going to be interrupted in the prime golf months of the summer — with a dubious plan to reschedule for the fall?

Original reports suggested that the state of Louisiana was concerned about the event and its financial obligation if the league were to cancel the tournament.

LIV Golf Louisiana, originally scheduled for June 25-28, was to be LIV’s ninth event on its 14-tournament schedule. Gov. Landry, in a statement, first made mention of the PGA Tour’s visit to the area over the weekend and also noted a desire to reschedule.

“First, we want to thank Zurich and PGA Tour leadership for another outstanding tournament this past weekend,” Landry said. “We are proud of the continued partnership and the opportunities this event brings to our state each year.

“Secretary Bourgeois spoke with LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and was informed that the organization seeks to postpone its June 2026 event in New Orleans and explore a potential event this fall. The state has already paid $3.2 million in accordance with the contract. LIV is expected to return all state incentive funds, with the exception of the $2 million already invested in upgrades for City Park, ensuring those improvements remain in place for the community.

“We appreciate LIV’s good-faith efforts and look forward to maintaining our partnership as we continue conversations around an event later this year.”

n its own statement, LIV Golf said that it “made the strategic decision to explore moving LIV Golf Louisiana to a new window later this fall. This shift allows us to avoid the peak summer heat and the crowded global sports calendar while ensuring the course is in the championship condition our fans and players expect.”

That statement simply raises more questions.

The tournament was announced as part of LIV’s schedule last August and you’d be naïve to not be aware of the summer heat in Louisiana. And given LIV’s reported financial plight at this time, postponing a tournament only adds to the chaos. Playing on dirt greens or in a monsoon makes more sense than abandoning the event now.

Playing in the fall in Louisiana comes with its own issues. The heat is still oppressive and it’s hurricane season. Also, there is this thing called LSU football. And the New Orleans Saints. The PGA Tour isn’t foolish enough to try to go up against those sports forces of nature.

From a purely competitive standpoint, LIV Golf will not have a tournament following its Spain event June 4-7 (two weeks before the U.S. Open) until its UK tournament July 23-26 (the week after the British Open). That’s six full weeks off in the optimal summer window

Also, it is unclear if this means that the league is shrinking to a 13-event schedule with 12 counting toward the individual title or if the Louisiana event to be rescheduled will be part of that. LIV Golf Indianapolis in August has been billed as LIV’s individual season championship.

That is trivial in the bigger picture, of course. LIV’s financial plight is the story. The league is scheduled to play next week in Virginia, where O’Neil — who has yet to speak to a non-LIV-affiliated outlet — might want to explain what is going on.