LIV Golf 2.0 gets major boost as 15 players commit to new era

LIV Golf's proposed revival has received a significant boost, with around 15 players tentatively committing to its next chapter as private-equity firm BC Partners attempts to secure the league's future.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that the unnamed golfers are among the first to indicate their willingness to join LIV 2.0, with further commitments expected in the coming days.

BC Partners Credit is pursuing a $300 million investment in the revamped circuit, but the deal hinges on attracting enough players to make the project viable for 2027.

The immediate target is a roster of 30 to 40 golfers. With only four players having publicly confirmed their intention to stay, the reported early commitments offer encouragement — but LIV Golf still has a significant recruitment challenge ahead.

BC Partners set Sunday 25 October as the initial deadline for players to commit, but that could now be extended to Friday 30 October when the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has financed the existing league, is understood to have set a deadline for reaching an agreement before beginning the wind-down process.

LIV Golf still has major names to convince 

The reported commitments suggest LIV 2.0 could be gaining traction behind the scenes, despite a wave of departures and uncertainty over several leading players.

Richard Bland, Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele and Ben Campbell are among the golfers to have publicly committed to the proposed new structure.

However, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter and a number of other stars have indicated they will not return. 

Bryson DeChambeau has yet to make a definitive announcement about his future, but there is expectation he will continue with the league. 

LIV's proposed 2027 schedule is expected to feature 10 events, split between five in the United States and five internationally. 

BC Partners reportedly hopes to expand that to 17 tournaments worldwide in the longer term.

One of the biggest changes would be the introduction of player equity, giving golfers a stake in the league rather than simply making them participants.

That proposal has prompted questions about how much influence players would have over governance, how LIV intends to generate revenue and what financial risks they would be taking on.

$400 million in player contracts adds to pressure

LIV's attempted relaunch comes with a substantial financial burden.

Bankruptcy documents indicate that players are owed more than $400 million in contractual guarantees, creating another hurdle as the league tries to establish a sustainable future.

Some golfers, including Rahm, have negotiated separation agreements. Others are still seeking clarity over outstanding payments before deciding their next move.

The Financial Times has also reported that BC Partners is interested in LIV's accumulated tax-loss assets, which could potentially provide benefits for future corporate acquisitions.

Those assets may form part of the attraction for the prospective investor, but securing enough players remains essential if the proposed competition is to get off the ground.

Dustin Johnson's future adds another complication

While LIV 2.0 appears to be making progress, Dustin Johnson is among the major names whose involvement remains in serious doubt.

The two-time major champion is leading a group of more than 10 LIV golfers seeking severance payments from the PIF over outstanding contracts reportedly worth more than $100 million.

According to The Athletic, the group is not expected to sign the current restructuring agreement in its present form.

The players want greater clarity over their contractual claims before deciding whether to release potential claims against the PIF and join LIV's proposed new structure.

Johnson's position is particularly significant given his status as one of LIV's original headline recruits and captain of 4Aces GC. His apparent reluctance to sign up would represent another major name potentially missing from the league's next chapter.

For BC Partners, the challenge is now twofold: secure enough players to make the investment viable and convince them that the new structure offers a future worth committing to.

The reported 15 tentative commitments provide a positive starting point. But with the deadline approaching, millions of dollars in disputed contracts and several marquee players still undecided, LIV Golf's comeback remains far from assured.