LIV Golf may postpone its Louisiana tournament scheduled for late June because the FIFA World Cup could hurt attendance and viewership. High temperatures and course conditions are also being considered, sources said.
The Saudi-backed circuit has been working with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s office and state economic officials to find a new date, potentially in September or October, according to people familiar with LIV operations. The event is currently set for June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park. The World Cup runs in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
LIV Golf, Governor Landry and Louisiana Economic Development are expected to issue a statement on the matter on Tuesday, the sources added.
The comments come less than two weeks after LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said the breakaway circuit’s 2026 season would proceed as planned amid reports the series could be at risk of losing funding. Rumours have circulated that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) might reduce backing after LIV was not mentioned in the fund’s four-year investment strategy.
The Louisiana event is the only LIV tournament currently scheduled during the World Cup. LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club is scheduled to begin May 7 in Washington, DC.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp says the American circuit is considering pathways to reinstate LIV players, as speculation continues about the breakaway league’s future.
Sky Sports Golf analyst Paul McGinley warned that any LIV players seeking to return to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour could face significant obstacles. “Over the last four years since LIV has been going, all of the spots these 56 players have had on the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour have been filled,” McGinley said. “You can’t just muscle your way back into what is going to be smaller fields than the bigger fields that they left. It’s not going to be an easy way back in, should they be allowed to do so.
“There’s a lot of negotiation to be done between the main tours and the LIV players, if LIV is going to fold, in terms of what the future may be. There are a lot of roadblocks in the way. There would be suspensions, there would be fines… It’s not going to be plain sailing for the LIV guys.”