LIV Golf Coming to New Orleans
There’s buzz around LIV Golf potentially making its way to New Orleans.
If you haven’t heard, you will soon enough.
State officials are anticipated to reveal that New Orleans will be among five locations across the U.S. included on the 2026 LIV schedule.
A recently leaked schedule to Sports Business Journal indicated that New Orleans, alongside South Africa, will be new additions to the tour, with the tournament expected from June 26-28 at Bayou Oaks Golf Course in City Park.
Understanding LIV Golf
Unless you’re a golf enthusiast, you might not be familiar with LIV. Launched as an alternative to the PGA Tour in 2022, LIV presents the highest tournament prize funds in golfing history, featuring top players like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed.
This past weekend’s LIV tournament in Dallas boasted a $25 million prize, starkly surpassing the $9.2 million from this year’s Zurich Classic. LIV reportedly offered Jon Rahm a staggering $302 million signing bonus as part of his multi-year, $566 million deal.
The Controversy Surrounding LIV
The controversy surrounding LIV stems from its ownership by the Saudi Arabian kingdom and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, known for a history of human rights abuses.
A recent U.S. Senate Committee investigation highlighted the expanding influence of Saudi Arabia and similar entities in American sports.
When the New Orleans tournament is officially announced, state officials will likely minimize concerns about “sportswashing,” focusing instead on the event’s economic potential, despite the event costing taxpayers $7 million.
Financial Implications
The state intends to allocate $2 million for improvements to the Bayou Oaks course, primarily enhancing the club’s driving range. An additional $5 million will be given to LIV as a “hosting fee.”
Speculation has risen regarding the motivations behind this deal, especially in light of potential ties between local officials and President Trump, who has a friendly relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Trump’s properties have hosted LIV events annually since the tour’s inception, raising questions about the business implications for the resorts involved.
Local Perspectives
Steve Worthy, CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation—which organizes the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic—valued their long-standing relationship with title sponsor Zurich and praised their charitable contributions exceeding $24 million over the past decade.
He expressed openness to competition but raises critical questions about the necessity of pursuing a rival event to the Zurich Classic.
Questions and Concerns
Is there actual benefit for New Orleans beyond the state’s investment in City Park? Is there a charitable aspect? And how might this affect funding for significant events like the Super Bowls that benefit local institutions?
Critically, why is public money going to support an organization that is already financially secure?
Many might find that the potential benefits do not justify the costs.
Doubts About Economic Impact
Assertions that the event will contribute $60 million to the local economy appear exaggerated. The previous year’s Zurich Classic, featuring stars like Rory McIlroy, generated a nearly equivalent economic impact with better attendance and ratings.
Expecting LIV to achieve similar results in late June when many locals are either at home or traveling is unrealistic.
Final Thoughts
Despite reported attendance growth at recent LIV events, it falls notably short compared to the PGA Tour’s statistics.
The attendance and viewership figures indicate that the appeal of LIV does not rival that of the established PGA Tour, making the decision to host a significant event in New Orleans during summer months perplexing.
Investing millions in a venture that only benefits the already affluent seems illogical, further cementing the notion that this initiative is more questionable than beneficial.
