LIV Golf has announced that it will be letting go of the bulk of its employees starting next week, as negotiations continue over the organization’s long‑term viability. The Saudi‑backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) has decided to cease its financial support after the conclusion of the 2026 season, leaving the league with no choice but to shrink its staff regardless of whether any new investment deals are sealed.
The league communicated to "the majority of its workforce" this week that their contracts under the current LIV 1.0 structure will terminate in the first week of September. This follows an earlier warning in July that redundancies were possible. The announcement came alongside a reminder to view related video content using the Chrome browser for optimal accessibility.
At present, no definitive decision has been reached regarding the number of employees required for any future iteration of the league. LIV Golf, which once employed more than 300 people worldwide, remains hopeful that a portion of its staff could be rehired if a new version of the competition – often referred to as LIV 2.0 – comes to fruition. "The funding commitment announced by PIF earlier this year will reach its conclusion," a league spokesperson told Sky Sports.
"Consequently, we are scaling back our operations as we transition to the next chapter of LIV Golf and work toward making LIV 2.0 a reality." "This week we informed many of our colleagues that their employment under LIV 1.0 will end in the first week of September. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication in building the league, and we remain committed to supporting those affected through this transition," the spokesperson added.
The league also promoted its streaming options, noting that fans can watch golf and other content without a contract, and hinted at future developments with a timeline of upcoming events. The season wrapped up a week early after the Team Championship in Michigan was cancelled. At an event in Indianapolis, chief executive Scott O'Neil expressed optimism that fresh investment could be secured, allowing the league to move forward.
O'Neil emphasized that discussions are ongoing with a potential lead investor as well as several minority investors. However, the term sheet that would fund the next season is currently non‑binding and has not been finalized. Proposed structures for the revived league include giving the players a majority ownership stake and imposing stricter commercial discipline. The envisioned schedule might feature five Team Championships spread across five continents, complemented by five Signature Events aligned with the major championships.
Leading players have voiced their perspectives on the situation. Bryson DeChambeau, speaking before last week's season finale, urged fans to give LIV Golf "one more shot and be open‑minded." Ian Poulter described it would be "a real shame" if the league were forced to shut down. Tyrrell Hatton, who entered the Husqvarna British Masters after the Team Championship was called off, declined to speculate on his own playing future.
In his pre‑tournament press conference he said, "I would expect there to be LIV next season. I know they've worked really hard to get the funding and stuff in place, so I know it's full steam ahead on that front." When asked about his personal schedule, Hatton replied, "To be honest, I haven't thought about that – I've got enough to worry about with playing golf for the rest of the year. I've still have multiple years left in my contract with LIV and I've got plenty of tournaments this year, so there's nothing really to focus on other than the golf." The Husqvarna British Masters will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning Thursday at 12:30 pm on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also access Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract via NOW.
In summary, LIV Golf is navigating a period of significant upheaval. The withdrawal of PIF's funding after 2026 forces the organization to downsize its workforce while it seeks new capital partners.
The league hopes that a restructured, player‑led model will emerge, preserving the sport's innovative format and allowing the competition to continue in a sustainable form. The next few months will be critical as negotiations progress, potential investors are vetted, and the details of LIV 2.0 are hammered out. Until then, the remaining staff, players, and fans await clarity on the league's future direction.