The state of Louisiana is expecting LIV Golf to pay back $1.2 million after the cancellation of the league’s debut New Orleans event this summer.
The postponement of LIV Golf Louisiana—scheduled for June 25–28 at the South Course at New Orleans City Park Bayou Oaks—was officially announced Tuesday in a joint statement from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Susan Bourgeois, secretary of Louisiana Economic Development (LED).
“Secretary Bourgeois spoke with LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on Friday and was informed that the organization seeks to postpone its June 2026 event in New Orleans to explore a potential event this fall,” the statement read.
Any rescheduling of LIV Golf Louisiana to the fall would likely be outside the league’s proper 2026 season, which ends in August. LIV may consider September or October dates, sources previously told Front Office Sports.
The development comes roughly two weeks after questions emerged about LIV’s future, with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia reportedly no longer funding the league after its 2026 season.
Louisiana is coming out of the situation having already spent millions on renovating a public course, but won’t lose any other funds.
“The state has already paid $3.2 million in accordance with the contract,” Landry and Bourgeois’s statement continued. “LIV is expected to return all state incentive funds, with the exception of the $2 million already invested in upgrades for City Park, ensuring those improvements remain in place for the community. We appreciate LIV’s good-faith efforts and look forward to maintaining our partnership as we continue conversations around an event later this year.”
Louisiana had committed $7.2 million in state funding for the LIV event, including a $5 million hosting fee and another $2.2 million on renovations to the city-owned golf course.
The state is only expecting $1.2 million in cash to be paid back by LIV, an LED spokesperson confirmed to FOS. Louisiana will keep the other $4 million earmarked for LIV, which had not yet been paid out.
The driving range at the Bayou Oaks Golf Course closed in January, as construction began, including regrading surfaces, improving drainage, adding a new layer of sand, new turf, and greens.
LIV Golf Louisiana was set to be played just 61 days after the conclusion of this past weekend’s PGA Tour event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, played annually each spring at TPC Louisiana.
Landry and Bourgeois’s statement Tuesday opened with the following paragraph: “First, we want to thank Zurich and PGA TOUR leadership for another outstanding tournament this past weekend. We are proud of the continued partnership and the opportunities this event brings to our state each year.”
The cancellation of LIV Golf Louisiana drops the league’s 2026 season from 14 to 13 events, and its U.S. tournaments from five to four.
Next up, LIV Golf Virginia is scheduled to begin May 7 at Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C.
After three international events in Korea, Spain, and the U.K., LIV’s season is set to conclude with three U.S. events in August, beginning at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey, followed by tournaments in Indianapolis and Michigan.
