BC Partners Credit announced an initial investment in LIV Golf on Monday, part of a $300 million cumulative targeted financing to help the beleaguered tour emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a team-driven golf league and with players as shareholders.
The announcement comes two days before the first in a series of hearings related to the September 8 bankruptcy filing.
Financing from funds advised on the BC Partners Credit platform requires bankruptcy court approval. This would allow LIV to begin planning for a 2027 season, which includes a 10-tournament schedule, half of which will be at international venues.
“Our goal is to facilitate LIV Golf’s exit from the restructuring process on a solid financial footing and with new momentum heading into the 2027 season,” said Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit, the credit arm of BC Partners.
“Just as important, we want the players who make this league what it is to share what they helped build,” he said. “Giving players real, hands-on ownership of the league and teams is a unique opportunity in professional golf, and it brings everyone together around the long-term success of the product for the game and for the fans.”
LIV players still have a few weeks to decide if they want to be part of LIV Golf 2.0 now that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has withdrawn its massive funding of more than $5 billion since its launch in 2022. That funding included signing bonuses – nine figures in some cases – and the $20 million in prize money for individual play.
Sergio Garcia asked the court last week to clarify the status of his LIV contract, whether it is terminated due to the bankruptcy filing or whether he can terminate the contract itself.
Adrian Meronk, who joined LIV Golf in 2024, won the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, paving the way for him to achieve European Tour status next year.
“It’s been a very strange year for LIV, obviously with the Saudis backing off and looking for new investors,” Meronk said after his victory. “There are still a lot of unknowns that we’re not sure about. And to be honest, it’s difficult from a player’s point of view to make a decision. So I’ll just wait and see. We still have a few weeks left but like I said, it helps a lot.
“I really need to reconsider my decision and see what happens.”
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said the investment was a significant milestone, thanking Goldthorpe and BC Partners “for their belief in what we are building.”
“We believe deeply in the future of this league and the opportunity to build something distinctive alongside our players,” O’Neil said in a statement. “We are hitting our major milestones and, while there is still work to do, today marks significant progress toward a truly global, player-owned, team-centric league that complements the broader game and creates new opportunities for players, fans, partners and the next generation of golfers.”
The PGA Tour has not indicated whether it will create an instant return path for LIV players, similar to what it did for Brooks Koepka earlier this year. Much of the attention is focused on LIV’s top players, such as Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Joaquin Niemann.
“We are excited about what this next phase can mean for players participating in the League,” Goldthorpe said. “We invite those who want to help build a strong and sustainable team golf league to join us.”
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