Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - An attempt to relaunch the breakaway Live Golf Tour after filing for bankruptcy protection collapsed following the withdrawal of the new lead investor, BC Partners Credit, according to several media reports on Wednesday.

Published on: 05/11/2026 - 08:09

The Financial Times and The Athletic newspapers reported, citing unnamed sources, that the private investment company decided to withdraw after facing difficulty in convincing a number of prominent stars to fully commit to the league in the next stage.

It is now expected to liquidate the remaining assets of the Saudi-backed league, which was previously known for its huge spending and turning the world of golf upside down by attracting major stars away from the traditional PGA Tour.

Live Golf did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund had pumped about five billion dollars into the round since 2022, before it suddenly stopped its support earlier this year.

“LEAF” officially filed for bankruptcy protection in September, but its officials pledged to relaunch it under the name “LEAF 2.0” next season, with a shorter schedule of tournaments, less prize money, and granting players shares of league ownership.

BC Partners Credit has pledged to provide initial financing of up to $300 million.

However, a number of former LEAF stars, including Spaniard Jon Rahm, publicly announced in recent weeks their withdrawal from the new version of the tour. It was also reported that a number of other players were hesitant about participating.

Even American Bryson DeChambeau, who is probably the most prominent name in the breakaway tournament and continued to support it, did not publicly commit to returning to it.

The attempt to relaunch LEAF became more complicated after the European DB World Tour reversed its policy of allowing golfers to participate in tournaments on both tours together, forcing players like Rahm to choose between them.

DB World CEO Guy Kennings told the Scotsman newspaper on Tuesday that it was his duty "to protect the tour from an entity that has, we are told, spent more than $7 billion, and one of its goals was to 'destroy the DB World tour'."

Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy, known for his sharp criticism of Leaf, expressed his support for Kennings' position on Wednesday, stressing that he also believed that Leaf sought to eliminate its competitors.

“I agree with Guy... They were talking to people at Augusta this year and saying this is what they want to do,” McIlroy told reporters ahead of the Abu Dhabi final tournament of the DB World Tour.

He added, "It is ironic that after only a week, they are now talking about 'integration, not competition' and the like. This is different from what they were saying at the beginning of the year."

Bankruptcy filings documents showed that Leaf owed between $500 million and $1 billion in discretionary liabilities to at least 1,000 creditors, including prominent players.

Rahm, DeChambeau, and fellow American golfer Dustin Johnson have the largest unsecured claims on the tour, with their immediate arrears each exceeding $5 million.

© 2026 AFP

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