LIV Golf gets a lifeline

Golf Digest

LIV Golf will live to see at least another year. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil announced he has secured funding to keep the league going past 2026, replacing the Saudi PIF, which had bankrolled the lavish tour since its inception in 2022. We have more on the league’s planned new schedule and unique player-equity structure. Plus, a LIV players-only meeting, the plot thickens for Jackson Koivun’s Presidents Cup chances, and an easy way to spot a sandbagger vs. someone with a vanity handicap.

A LIV lifeline: CEO says ‘lead investor’ secured to keep league going into 2027

Scott O'Neil, the league's CEO, announced Wednesday that LIV has secured an unnamed lead investor, with a deal expected to be finalized in September.

By Shane Ryan

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Coleman Bentley Aug. 5

"It was fun, no one was throwing fists or anything." An Byeong-hun, affectionately known as "Ben An," has always been a dependable source of a soundbite. Apparently this was on the scouting report at Trump Bedminster on Tuesday, when reporters stopped the LIV Golf pro following a top-secret players-only meeting.

Bryson DeChambeau, who was said to lead the meeting, declined to speak to reporters, but An didn't get away clean. Though he didn't discuss the contents of the meeting or reveal the future of LIV Golf—that was CEO Scott O'Neil's brief on Wednesday—An did share, much to the chagrin of golf's ambulance chasers, that "nobody was throwing fists." Big win!

When the best thing you can say about your workplace is that no one is beating the crap out of each other, that's generally not a good sign. Nor was An declining to comment on the rumored cancellation of LIV Golf's team championship in Michigan later this month.

"We know as much as anyone knows. There's no 'no' or 'yes.' I'm waiting on it so ..." An said before being pulled away by a LIV representative.

Needless to say, it wasn't a confidence inspiring answer from former U.S. Amateur champ, but at least no one walked away with a black eye.

Ryan Herrington Aug. 4

Whether Jackson Koivun, four starts and one win into his PGA Tour career, should be consider for a U.S. Presidents Cup captain’s pick is a debate that took on a new dimension Tuesday at the Wyndham Championship. That’s because, according to Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner, Koivun played a practice round at Sedgefield Country Club with American captain Brandt Snedeker. Coincidence? We think not. Joining them was another nascent tour pro, Ben James. Exactly how the pseudo job interview went is unclear, but it would seem the Snedeker is keeping the door open to some (very) young blood on his squad come September.

Sam Weinman Aug. 4

Sandbagging and vanity handicaps are two very different breeds of golfer. One is devious; the other delusional. What I’ve determined is they can easily be identified through one common scenario.

In a best-ball match, when your partner is already in for your team’s score, you might decide for pace-of-play reasons to pick up and proceed to the next hole. What score do you put down then? According to the World Handicap System, players are asked to enter their Most Likely Score based on where they are and their skill level. But even then, it’s a matter of perspective. A four-foot sidehill slider is no gimme, but two different golfers might assess it differently. The vanity handicap wants the lower score and will assume they would have made it for par. The sandbagger will go with a two-putt and bogey. The easiest way to avoid confusion? Just putt everything.