LIV player group led by Dustin Johnson seeks $100 million in unpaid contracts from Saudi PIF
A group of LIV Golf players led by Dustin Johnson, represented by his attorney, is seeking more than $100 million in severance payments from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which originally backed the league. The push comes as LIV faces a wave of player departures — including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and several others — and ahead of a now-delayed commitment deadline for LIV 2.0, the BC Partners-backed successor league. Bankruptcy documents reportedly show that league executives collected over $15 million after the PIF withdrew funding, while vendors, broadcasters, and players remain unpaid. According to the New York Times, the PIF has so far offered the equivalent of two cents on the dollar for the $100 million claim.
The decision to release potential claims against the PIF and join LIV 2.0 will be influenced largely by how the PIF manages the wind-up of LIV 1.0
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and vendors considering involvement with LIV 2.0 must weigh the unresolved financial liabilities left by its predecessor.
For media: Broadcasters are listed among creditors still owed money from LIV 1.0, raising questions about media rights arrangements for any successor league.
For athletes: Pro golfers still under LIV contracts face significant uncertainty about whether they will recover owed compensation and whether joining LIV 2.0 is a viable path forward.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: LIV players' $100 million ask: Unpaid debts threaten league's future