LIV Golf has announced that it will be letting go of the bulk of its employees beginning next week, while negotiations continue to secure the organisation's long‑term viability. The decision follows the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund's (PIF) declaration that its financial support will cease at the end of the 2026 season, leaving the league with no choice but to trim its headcount regardless of whether any new investment deals are sealed. Earlier this week the league sent a notice to "the majority of its workforce" indicating 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 a distinct possibility.
The communication stressed that the cuts are part of a broader effort to scale back operations as the organisation prepares for a new chapter, tentatively dubbed LIV 2.0. A spokesperson for LIV Golf told Sky Sports, "The funding commitment announced by PIF earlier this year will reach its conclusion. As a result, we are scaling back 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 to our employees for their hard work and dedication in building LIV Golf, and we remain committed to supporting those affected through this transition." The league, which at its peak employed more than 300 staff members across the globe, has not yet determined the exact staffing requirements for any future iteration of the tour. Management has indicated that some positions may be reinstated if the new model materialises, but no firm numbers have been disclosed. The backdrop to these layoffs is the abrupt end of the LIV Golf season, which concluded a week earlier than planned after the Team Championship in Michigan was cancelled. Chief executive Scott O'Neil, speaking at an event in Indianapolis, expressed optimism that fresh capital could be secured and that the tour could move forward despite the setback.
LIV Golf is reportedly in talks with a potential lead investor as well as several minority investors. The term sheet that would fund the next season is currently non‑binding and still under negotiation. One of the proposals on the table envisions the league being majority‑owned by its players, with a renewed emphasis on "commercial discipline".
Under this scenario, the schedule could feature five Team Championships spread across five continents, complemented by five Signature Events aligned with the major championships. Prominent players have weighed in on the uncertainty. Bryson DeChambeau, speaking before last week's season finale, urged fans and sponsors to give LIV Golf "one more shot and be open‑minded".
Ian Poulter echoed the sentiment, saying it would be "a real shame" if the league were forced to fold. Meanwhile, English golfer Tyrrell Hatton, who entered the Husqvarna British Masters after the Team Championship cancellation, declined to comment on his own future with the tour.
In a 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 got 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 upcoming Husqvarna British Masters, now the marquee event in the wake of the cancelled Team Championship, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage beginning Thursday at 12:30 pm.
Viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract via NOW, the platform's on‑demand service. Looking ahead, the timeline for LIV Golf remains fluid. The league hopes to finalize investment arrangements soon, restructure its ownership model, and launch a revised schedule that balances global team events with high‑profile individual tournaments.
Until those pieces fall into place, the organisation will continue to support its departing staff, explore new funding avenues, and keep the golfing community informed about the next steps in its evolution toward what it hopes will be a sustainable and competitive alternative to the traditional tour structure.