LIV Golf plans to delay a big event after the US Government asked for talks about shutdown rumors.
LIV Golf is likely to delay its June event in New Orleans as worries about losing funding keep growing.
LIV Golf is still pretty new, having started in October 2021, but it seems the league might be facing a big crisis. In early April, reports hinted that the Saudi-backed league was having problems, with rumors of a major announcement coming soon.
More news then suggested that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) might pull their support because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. These rumors made officials in Louisiana nervous, especially with LIV Golf’s first-ever visit to New Orleans planned for June 25–28.
Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary, Susan Bourgeois, emailed LIV Golf asking for a meeting and said she needed some clear answers by April 20, or the event might be postponed or even canceled.
The state has already spent a big $7 million on the event—$5 million as a hosting fee for LIV Golf and $2 million on improving the Bayou Oaks golf course.
Now, it looks like a postponement is very likely. BBC Sport reports that the league is talking with local officials about moving the tournament to September or October. This would help avoid the hot summer weather and make sure the golf course is in great shape. It would also avoid clashing with the football World Cup taking place across North America this summer.
If the New Orleans event is delayed, it means LIV Golf won’t hold any US events from May 10 until August 6.
All sides—the league, the Louisiana governor, and Economic Development—are expected to make a joint announcement about the event on Tuesday, April 28. While the exact reasons for the delay aren’t clear, this news will probably worry people even more about the future of LIV Golf.