LIV Golf postpones New Orleans event amid Saudi funding uncertainty
Consensus Summary
LIV Golf has postponed its June 2026 tournament in New Orleans amid reports Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) may withdraw funding. The event, originally scheduled for June 25–28 at Bayou Oaks, could be rescheduled for autumn to avoid summer heat and conflicts with other major events. Louisiana officials confirmed they had paid $3.2 million of a $7 million incentive package, with LIV expected to return all state funds. The postponement creates a scheduling gap in LIV’s 2026 calendar, with no U.S. events between May and August. Both sources agree the move reflects financial uncertainty for the tour, which has spent over $5 billion since its 2022 launch, though details on the autumn rescheduling remain unclear.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- LIV Golf postponed its June 2026 event in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a potential rescheduling for later in the year (autumn).
- The event was originally scheduled for June 25–28, 2026, at Bayou Oaks in City Park, New Orleans.
- Louisiana officials had agreed to pay LIV Golf $5 million and spend an additional $2.2 million on course improvements, totaling $7 million in incentives.
- Louisiana has so far paid $3.2 million ($4.4 million AUD) of the $7 million ($9.7 million AUD) agreement, with LIV expected to return all state incentive funds.
- LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois agreed to postpone the event after reports Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was preparing to pull funding.
- The postponement creates a gap in LIV Golf’s 2026 schedule between Andalucia (June 4–7) and UK (July 23–26) events.
- LIV Golf’s New Orleans event is the first cancelled or postponed tournament since Saudi PIF’s reported funding withdrawal earlier this month.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Governor Jeff Landry confirmed Louisiana will repay $1 million already advanced to LIV Golf.
- LIV Golf and Louisiana officials left the door open for a different version of the tournament later in 2026.
- The announcement came a day after reports of Saudi PIF’s funding pullback emerged.
- LIV Golf Andalucia in Spain (June 4–7) and LIV Golf UK (July 23–26) are the only confirmed U.S. events in 2026 before the potential autumn rescheduling.
- The postponement would leave a three-month gap in U.S. tournaments, with no events between Trump National (May 7–10) and Trump Bedminster (August 6–9).
- LIV Golf is considering moving the New Orleans event to autumn to avoid peak summer temperatures, ensure course readiness, and avoid conflicts with the World Cup (though New Orleans is not hosting matches).
- WDSU and nola.com were the first to report the postponement on Monday, with an official announcement expected Tuesday.
- Louisiana will repay $1 million already paid to LIV Golf in advance.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Louisiana has paid $3.2 million of the $7 million agreement, while the Guardian does not specify the exact amount paid but confirms $5 million was agreed upon with $2.2 million for course improvements.
- The Guardian implies the postponement is likely to be in autumn, while ABC leaves the timing open to a 'different version of the tournament later this year' without specifying autumn.
Source Articles
LIV Golf postpones US event amid tour's uncertain future
LIV Golf and the US state of Louisiana make a call on the tour's event in New Orleans, which was slated for June.
LIV Golf to postpone New Orleans event amid reports of Saudi money drying up
No LIV tournaments expected in US from mid-May to August CEO had promised season would continue ‘full throttle’ LIV Golf’s inaugural tournament in New Orleans scheduled for the end of June is likely to be postponed until the autumn, according to multiple local reports. New Orleans television station WDSU and nola.com were among the first to report on Monday that the Bayou Oaks event at City Park planned for late June was being moved to later in the year. Continue reading...