LIV Golf Abandons Restart Plan to Wind Down
The league filed for bankruptcy in September and will liquidate assets instead of launching a restructured version for 2027.
By Jabari Long ·
LIV Golf will close its doors after five years of operation, ending the career of its first U.S.-branded team in Oklahoma. The league announced on Thursday in bankruptcy court that it is moving toward a wind-down of operations rather than launching a new version of the sport.
Attorney Matthew Williams of Gibson Dunn told a hearing in New Jersey that the debtors are not proceeding with the LIV 2.0 plan. He stated that the organization is toggling to a value-maximizing wind-down in its business.
LIV Golf launched in June 2022 with nine-figure signing bonuses to attract top players from the PGA Tour. The league lost funding from Saudi Arabia in April after spending more than $5 billion. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 8.
A potential lifeline through BC Partners Credit fell through. The firm had pledged a $300 million investment to pivot to a more sustainable model. Players including Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, and Louis Oosthuizen did not support the deal. BC Partners said in a statement that mutually acceptable terms could not be reached among stakeholders.
The shutdown ends the league's presence in Oklahoma. In May 2023, LIV hosted a tournament at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow. Dustin Johnson won the event in a three-man playoff against Cameron Smith and Branden Grace. He claimed the $4 million individual first-place prize.
The league announced in April 2026 that Smash GC would rebrand as OKGC. This made it the first team directly associated with a U.S. market. Talor Gooch, a Midwest City native and former Oklahoma State golfer, served as team captain. The roster included Graeme McDowell, Jason Kokrak, and Harold Varner III.
LIV officials promoted the rebranding to build regional partnerships. The team competed under its Oklahoma identity during the 2026 season. The bankruptcy decision leaves no future for the franchise within LIV.
The league faced setbacks before and after filing. The Asian Tour renewed an alliance with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in July. European Tour CEO Guy Kinnings said last month that anyone signing up for LIV 2.0 need not apply for membership on the European tour. PIF changed its investment strategy in April and said it would no longer pay for LIV Golf after the 2026 season.
