LIV golfers considering playing on DP World Tour after postponement of New Orleans event

Lewis Henderson
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:24:12 +0000

LIV golfers are said to be considering playing on the DP World Tour after the postponement of LIV's New Orleans event.

The £22million tournament was originally scheduled for June, but organisers cited summer heat as a reason for the delay.

The Saudi-backed league announced it would seek an alternative autumn date for the New Orleans event, stating it wished to avoid "the peak summer heat and the crowded global sports calendar".

Critics have pointed out that neither factor should have caught organisers off guard, given that they were in the schedule or likely well in advance.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Louisiana's sweltering Gulf Coast summers have been well documented for decades, whilst the World Cup was awarded to the United States, Canada and Mexico back in 2018.

With the cancellation, no LIV Golf event will be held in the US from May 10 to August 6, missing the key summer months of June and July.

Only three tournaments are available for LIV Golf players from the end of May to the start of August, being played in South Korea, Spain and Britain.

Players face the additional frustration of having no competitive golf between the US Open and the Open Championship, when most would prefer a warm-up event.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS

Lionesses legend announces retirement from football at 32

PSG edge Bayern Munich in thrilling nine-goal first leg as Champions League records tumble

Man City furious with Premier League after giving Arsenal major advantage in title race

Those LIV members who previously struck agreements with DP World Tour headquarters at Wentworth retain access to the Italian Open, BMW International in Germany and the Scottish Open ahead of Royal Birkdale.

DP World Tour sources have confirmed that multiple LIV players have enquired about returning to the circuit next season.

The postponement has fuelled intense speculation that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has turned off the financial taps, leaving the breakaway circuit battling for its very survival.

The league has already burned through more than £3.7bn since launching in 2022, and Tuesday's statement regarding the New Orleans event is unlikely to calm nerves.

LIV declined to guarantee that the rescheduled "new window" would actually materialise, with the autumn replacement appearing to be little more than an exhibition event.

The mounting uncertainty comes ahead of next week's tournament at Trump National.

Louisiana officials disclosed eight months ago that they had committed £3.7million in payments to LIV Golf, alongside a further £1.63million for upgrades to the Bayou Oaks course.

The state has thus far handed over £740,000, and Governor Jeff Landry is demanding that money back.

Landry said: "LIV is expected to return all state incentive funds, with the exception of the $2m already invested in upgrades [to the golf course], ensuring those improvements remain in place for the community."

Chief executive Scott O'Neil attempted to reassure staff in a recent memo, insisting the 2026 season would proceed "uninterrupted and at full throttle".

O'Neil privately told employees that Saudi backing was secured through the end of this campaign, but did not give any indication of the future.