BC Partners Credit has dropped plans to fund a new version of LIV Golf because the proposed circuit lacked sufficient player support, The Financial Times reported. The financial backer had pledged up to $300 million for “LIV Golf 2.0,” which aimed to run at least 10 tournaments with an emphasis on teams.
Financial Backing Collapses Over Roster Shortfalls
The proposed successor to the Saudi-backed golf league required enough high-profile players to commit to the project, but the roster depth failed to materialize. The Financial Times reported that while LIV officials believed roughly 30 players were willing to stay, only four competitors—including Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale—publicly stated their support for the new venture. Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit, had previously expressed confidence in the circuit’s financial sustainability at a Sportico conference in September, pointing to existing infrastructure. However, without adequate star power signing onto the project, the backing evaporated.
🚨❌💰 BREAKING NEWS — The Financial Times is reporting that BC Partners is set to drop its bid to finance the future of the LIV Golf League citing the inability to secure enough player commitments. (Via @sindap) pic.twitter.com/ICJ6tD03EV
| Project Metric | Initial Plan (LIV 2.0) | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Committed Funding | Up to $300 Million | Scrapped by BC Partners Credit |
| Planned Tournaments | At least 10 events | Cancelled |
| Court Hearing Focus | Emergence from Chapter 11 | Shifted toward asset liquidation |
Bankruptcy Court Hearing Shifts Toward Asset Liquidation
Following the withdrawal of financial support, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing scheduled for Thursday shifted trajectory. Originally set to address Jon Rahm’s release from his contract and the initial emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed on Sept. 8, the proceedings turned toward LIV Golf seeking the liquidation of its assets, according to The Financial Times. Court filings showed LIV Golf New Jersey changing its address on Wednesday from a New York office to a commercial office property in Claymont, Delaware.
Pressure From Traditional Tours and Roster Exodus
The collapse of the new project follows a broader withdrawal of financial backing by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which determined it would no longer fund LIV Golf after the 2026 season following the start of the Iran war. The league, which originally launched in 2022 under Greg Norman by spending more than $5 billion on nine-figure signing bonuses for players like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau, faced mounting pressures from traditional bodies. The European tour issued a strict ultimatum declaring that any player signing with LIV 2.0 would be denied membership, rendering European competitors ineligible for the Ryder Cup.
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European tour CEO Guy Kinnings criticized the rival circuit in an interview with The Scotsman, stating, “But we also have to protect the tour against an entity who spent, so we are told, over $7 billion, with one of their aims being to ‘destroy the DP World Tour.'” Amid these pressures, high-profile names including Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, and Tyrrell Hatton chose not to remain with the league, while younger players like David Puig and Tom McKibbin also departed.
Thursday Court Hearing Set to Shape Final Exit
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey handles the proceedings on Thursday, where the focus centers squarely on the liquidation of remaining assets rather than structural reorganization under LIV 2.0.
BC Partners is dropping its bid to relaunch LIV Golf after an insufficient number of players committed to satisfy the company. Read more: https://t.co/3ruQS666Tm H/T: @FinancialTimes pic.twitter.com/SR9DTX7PJy
BC Partners is dropping its bid to relaunch LIV Golf after an insufficient number of players committed to satisfy the company. Read more: https://t.co/3ruQS66EIU H/T: @FT pic.twitter.com/FugOytoAzI
