Crisis-hit LIV Golf cancels key streaming feature after two years

LIV Golf have confirmed one of their lauded streaming features has been cancelled. 

The breakaway tour launched the "Any Shot, Any Time" feature on their official app two years ago.

Users paid $59.99 a year or $8.99 per event to see any shot throughout a round from any player in the field. 

At the time of its launch, it was seen as a massive win for the league and it prompted the PGA Tour to launch their own version. 

But viewers noticed the feature vanished from the app during the first round of LIV's eighth event of the year in Korea. 

A LIV spokesperson has subsequently confirmed to Sports Business Journal the decision to axe the feature was "strategic" as the league "evaluates its operations and production model". 

It is not known what the weekly costs were to run the feature. 

The spokesperson confirmed that the league is currently working on a refund plan for buyers who paid the full $59.99. 

After this week's stop at Asiad Country Club, there are six LIV events scheduled for the remainder of the 2026 season. 

The news comes amid a turbulent period for the breakaway tour. 

In April, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it will withdraw its multibillion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season. 

In a statement, PIF stated that the "substantial investment" required to fund LIV was no longer consistent with the current phase of their strategy. 

"LIV Golf has substantially grown the game globally through its transformational and positive impact," the statement read. "It has forever changed the game of golf for the better.

"PIF remains committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, including its substantial current and future investments in various sports."

LIV Golf's chief executive, Scott O'Neil, said he would "work like crazy" to ensure their survival beyond 2026. 

He has already taken the product to market and is reportedly seeking between $250-350m from investors, with the alleged promise of becoming profitable within 20 months. 

Whether LIV survives in 2027 remains to be seen. 

There are suggestions LIV 2.0 could see the schedule trimmed to 10 events from 14, with prize purses also reduced to $5-10m from $30m. 

Two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau told reporters on Wednesday that he is doing "everything I can" to ensure LIV's survival. 

"We all have optimism that there is a business plan that makes sense for team golf," he said.

"I'd quite honestly actually — how do I say it? I'm very optimistic with the business plan of team golf compared to other models, in my opinion.

"Other models have worked, as well, so I'm not going to say that one is better than the other.

"But I do see value in what team golf can provide not only worldwide, but also in grass-rooting the game of golf."

DeChambeau has admitted that he would likely focus on YouTube if LIV fails. 

Former PGA Tour winner turned golf commentator Smylie Kaufman believes DeChambeau would be wasting his talent if he were to choose that option.