The LIV golf tournament in New Orleans scheduled for later this summer has been postponed, the state of Louisiana announced Tuesday. The state and LIV Golf hope a reimagined version of the tournament will be held in the fall, but what form that will take has not yet been determined.
“First, we would like to thank Zurich and the leadership of the PGA Tour for hosting another great tournament this past weekend,” Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said in a joint statement. “We are proud of our continued partnership and the opportunities this event brings to our state each year.
“Secretary Bourgeois met with LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neal on Friday and was informed that the organization is seeking to postpone the June 2026 event in New Orleans to explore the possibility of holding it this fall. The state has already paid $3.2 million under the contract, and LIV will return all state incentives, except for the $2 million already invested in City Park improvements, to ensure these improvements remain in the community.
“We are grateful for LIV’s faithful commitment and look forward to continuing our partnership as we continue the conversation for events later this year. We are grateful for the work of our local partners and their collaboration in supporting this effort. Louisiana continues to move forward with strong momentum and we remain focused on opportunities to bring value to our communities.”
LIV Golf Louisiana was scheduled to begin June 25, one week after the U.S. Open at Sinek Hills. Without tournaments on the calendar, and no calendar should ever be replaced, there would be a one-month gap in LIV Golf’s playing schedule, meaning players would have no place on the circuit to prepare for the Open at Royal Birkdale, which begins on July 16th.
Instead, the league will resume play the following week on July 23 at JCB Golf & Country Club in England.
According to previous reports, the state of Louisiana has secured about $7 million to bring LIV Golf to New Orleans. Almost all of the money has been spent, with $5 million going to LIV Golf as hosting fees and $2 million going toward course improvements. Under the contract’s clawback clause, LIV Golf will repay the $1.2 million it has already received and will not be eligible to receive the remaining $4 million.
The money exchange comes at a tumultuous time for the league. Reports have surfaced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund plans to withdraw funds from the league after the season, following the refocusing of the country’s financial incentives announced a few weeks ago.
In an email to LIV Golf employees, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neill asserted that the league is on solid financial footing and noted that the 2026 season will proceed “as planned, without interruption, and at full throttle.” But in an interview with TNT Sports, O’Neal said he will have to “work like crazy” to keep it going.
LIV Golf is planning LIV Golf Virginia’s first foray into the U.S. next week at Trump National DC. The event kicks off part of a packed schedule that will see the league travel to South Korea from May 28-31, followed by an event in Spain from June 4-7.
