"The schedule for LIV Golf next year? It seems even CEO Scott O'Neil doesn't know."
Martin Kaymer of Germany, captain of the LIV Golf Klicks team, made the remark to the BBC on the 23rd during the LIV Golf UK event held at JCB Golf and Country Club in Rocester, England. "There have recently been discussions within LIV about what lies ahead, but there were no answers on the decisions we really wanted or on what will happen next year," he said.
Kaymer, who has won two major championships including the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Open, said, "Unfortunately, even the CEO cannot tell us, because he doesn't know either." He added, "Everything depends on the investors' decision."
LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022 amid expectations that it would become a rival to the PGA Tour, is facing a crisis over its survival. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which poured nearly 7 trillion won into running the tour over the first three years, has declared it will end its sponsorship after this season.
LIV must find a new source of funding, but at present there appears to be no rescuer willing to invest large sums in a circuit that has failed to demonstrate clear appeal and vision over more than three years. In a May interview, CEO O'Neil said, "We have received 12 investment inquiries. They include private equity funds and high-net-worth individuals who invest in sports, which is very positive." But nearly three months later, no progress has been visible. LIV is said to need at least 500 billion won in new investment immediately.
LIV is due to hold its New York event on August 6-9, its Indianapolis event on August 20-23, and the Michigan Team Championship on August 27-30. But on this, Kaymer conveyed the mood, saying, "The chances of holding the Team Championship are very small," and "The situation doesn't look good."
LIV has made "team sport" its own identity and has held its final event of the season as a team competition. The cancellation of the Michigan Team Championship could be an event that symbolically illustrates LIV's downfall.
LIV has been suffering from various setbacks, including the recent suspension of its cooperation with the Asian Tour, as well as a promise to pay $1 million to a U.S. golf tee manufacturer as a settlement for trademark infringement. It has also been embroiled in a $1 million payment lawsuit brought by a company after failing to pay for the use of broadcasting technology.
On the possibility of LIV surviving in 2027, Kaymer said, "I hope that will be the case. Several parties are showing interest in investing in LIV and say the outlook is good, but we have all been through situations like this. Without a signature on a contract, it means nothing."
