LIV Golf Louisiana 2026: Field, Prize Money & How to Watch

LIV Golf Louisiana was supposed to be the league’s boldest American debut yet. A $30 million purse, 57 of the world’s best players, and the most festival-ready city in the country all lined up for something genuinely special.

In late April 2026, LIV Golf officially pulled the June event from the calendar. The FIFA World Cup, brutal summer heat, and serious financial questions around the league’s Saudi backing all played a part. Both LIV Golf and Louisiana officials remain publicly committed to making the New Orleans debut happen before the year ends.

Here is everything you need to know about LIV Golf Louisiana 2026.

What Is LIV Golf Louisiana 2026?

LIV Golf Louisiana 2026 is the first ever LIV Golf tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana. Announced in August 2025, it was backed by a $7.2 million state commitment and a press conference featuring Governor Jeff Landry, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

The event sits on LIV Golf’s 14-tournament 2026 global schedule as one of five planned U.S. stops. It was originally the 10th event of the season, slated for Bayou Oaks at City Park in New Orleans.

As of June 2026, the original June dates are gone and a fall rescheduling is under active discussion. No confirmed new dates have been announced. Check LIV Golf official website for updates.

Key Facts About LIV Golf Louisiana:

• One of five U.S. stops on the 14-event 2026 LIV Golf global schedule
• Originally planned for June 25-28, 2026. Postponed. Fall 2026 TBA.
• Venue: Bayou Oaks at City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Format: 72-hole stroke play with a shotgun start each round
• 57 players across 13 four-player teams
• No cut applied at any stage. All 57 players compete every round.
• Total purse: $30 million ($20M individual + $10M team)
• Individual winner earns $4 million
• Last place guaranteed $50,000
• Broadcast live on the FOX Sports family of networks in the U.S.
• Local hero: Bubba Watson, RangeGoats GC captain and Gulf Coast native

History of LIV Golf

LIV Golf launched in 2022 with Saudi PIF backing and immediately disrupted professional golf. Massive guaranteed contracts pulled major champions like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson away from the PGA Tour.

The league started with 54-hole events, a shotgun start format, and no cuts. For 2026, it made two significant structural changes. Events expanded from 54 holes to 72 holes and the field grew from 54 to 57 players with five new wildcard positions.

Louisiana became a brand-new addition to the 2026 schedule, replacing LIV Golf Miami and LIV Golf Dallas, which both departed the calendar. The state committed $7.2 million to secure the deal, including $5 million in hosting fees and $2.2 million for Bayou Oaks course upgrades.

Notable Milestones on the Road to Louisiana:

• 2022: LIV Golf launches with 8 events. Charl Schwartzel wins the inaugural event at Centurion Club in England.
• 2023: Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf in one of the league’s biggest-ever signings. LIV expands to 13 teams.
• 2024: Rahm wins his first LIV Golf Individual Championship in his debut full season with the league.
• 2025: Rahm wins back-to-back Individual Championships. LIV announces the expanded 72-hole format for 2026.
• August 2025: Louisiana commits $7.2 million to bring LIV Golf to New Orleans City Park for the first time.
• April 2026: The June event is officially postponed. Both parties target a fall 2026 debut.

What Makes LIV Golf Louisiana Unique?

Honestly, the setting alone separates this from every other stop on the 2026 schedule. Bayou Oaks at City Park sits inside one of America’s great urban parks, surrounded by centuries-old live oaks and just five miles from the French Quarter.

No other LIV venue carries that kind of cultural weight. It is also the only stop on the schedule at a public facility, meaning everyday golfers tee it up on the same fairways week in, week out. That connection gives the tournament a different community feel from the private clubs that dominate the global circuit.

Then there is Bubba Watson. The two-time Masters champion grew up three hours away in Pensacola and won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans back in 2011. This is genuinely close to a home event for him, and the crowd energy around RangeGoats GC will reflect that from the very first round.

The LIV festival format was practically built for this city. Walk-up songs, live DJs, post-round concerts, local food everywhere on course. LIV Golf brings the elite competition. New Orleans already knows how to handle everything else.

And since this is the very first edition, there are no traditions yet, no defending champion, no established narrative. Everything that happens here becomes history in real time.

When and Where Does LIV Golf Louisiana Take Place?

The 2026 LIV Golf Louisiana tournament was originally scheduled for June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park in New Orleans. It has since been postponed.

The FIFA World Cup running June 11 to July 19 across North America, New Orleans’ intense late-June heat, and LIV Golf’s financial restructuring all contributed to the decision. Louisiana had paid $3.2 million under the contract. LIV agreed to return $1.2 million, with the $2 million already invested in Bayou Oaks improvements staying with City Park permanently.

Both sides are actively exploring a fall 2026 window. September and October are the most likely targets. For confirmed dates, check LIVGolf.com.

Course Details: Bayou Oaks at City Park

Bayou Oaks at City Park is a public 36-hole golf complex inside New Orleans City Park, about five miles from the French Quarter and 20-25 miles from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

The South Course hosts LIV Golf Louisiana. Originally opened in 1902, it was completely rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and redesigned by Rees Jones in 2017. Former LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman oversaw additional renovations tied directly to the tournament preparation.

State funding drove the first significant upgrades to the site since the 1960s. Regraded surfaces, improved drainage, new turf, upgraded greens, and expanded spectator zones are all permanent improvements that benefit the local community long after any tournament.

Course Layout and Conditions:

• Par 72 layout stretching approximately 7,302 yards from the tips
• 46 bunkers placed strategically across all 18 holes
• Multiple water hazards raising the stakes on approach shots throughout
• Wide, forgiving fairways that reward power and distance off the tee
• Fast, firm Bermudagrass greens demanding precise putting and sharp approaches
• Tree-lined corridors of live oaks requiring careful shot-shaping in both directions
• Fan-friendly spectator zones upgraded specifically for this inaugural event

Power players will feast on the length. The water hazards and firm greens will punish anyone who loses focus when it matters most.

LIV Golf Louisiana Tournament Format

LIV Golf Louisiana runs over four complete days of 72-hole stroke play. No cuts. All 57 players compete from Thursday through Sunday, no exceptions.

Every round opens with a simultaneous shotgun start. All 18 groups tee off from different holes at the exact same moment, creating action everywhere on the course from the very first shot. It is the most fan-friendly format in professional golf and it makes the broadcast far denser than anything on a traditional tour.

Players compete for two titles at once. The individual race runs alongside a concurrent team championship across all four rounds, with both decided by Sunday’s final cumulative scores.

Tournament Format Breakdown:

Detail	Information
Format	Stroke play
Total Rounds	4
Total Holes	72
Field Size	57 players
Cut	No cut. All 57 players compete every round
Start Format	Shotgun start each round
Teams	13 teams of 4 competing concurrently
Playoff Format	Sudden death if tied after 72 holes

Round-by-Round Breakdown:

• Round 1 (Thursday): All 57 players launch simultaneously from different holes. Individual and team standings take shape right from the opening shots.
• Round 2 (Friday): No cut applied. The full field keeps competing and the leaderboard starts to separate heading into the weekend.
• Round 3 (Saturday): Moving day. Contenders push hard across both the individual and team leaderboards with one round to go.
• Round 4 (Sunday): Champion decided. Both titles are settled simultaneously by the final cumulative scores. Festival atmosphere takes over after the last putt drops.

If two or more players tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff begins immediately. Play continues hole by hole until one player posts the lower score.

What Happened and What Comes Next

The original June 25-28 dates are gone. Here is the full picture of what happened and what to expect going forward.

Why Was LIV Golf Louisiana Postponed?

Three pressures hit at the same time. The FIFA World Cup ran across North America from June 11 to July 19, creating a direct clash for viewership and on-site attendance. New Orleans’ late-June heat was a legitimate concern for both players and fans on the ground.

Then the financial story broke. In April 2026, Saudi PIF confirmed it would withdraw league funding beyond 2026 as part of a refocused domestic investment strategy. 

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil had initially assured the industry the league was funded through 2032. He later acknowledged funding was only guaranteed through the end of the current season.

That context made it difficult to proceed with a major new market debut on the original timeline.

What Was Agreed:

• Louisiana had paid $3.2 million under the contract at the time of postponement
• LIV Golf agreed to return $1.2 million of that sum
• The $2 million already invested in Bayou Oaks upgrades stays with City Park permanently
• Both parties publicly committed to rescheduling for fall 2026

What to Expect Next:

No confirmed fall date has been announced as of June 2026. September and October are the windows under discussion. When dates drop, LIV Golf official website will carry the announcement followed quickly by ticket release and broadcast confirmation from FOX Sports.

What a Typical LIV Golf Event Week Looks Like:

For fans planning trips ahead of the confirmed dates, here is the general structure of a four-day LIV Golf event:

• Pre-event day: Practice facilities open. Players prepare with no competition.
• Thursday (Round 1): Gates open around 8 AM. Shotgun start approximately 8:30 AM. Post-round entertainment in the evening.
• Friday (Round 2): Same structure. Full field competes. Leaderboard takes real shape.
• Saturday (Round 3): Moving day. Live concert in the evening at most events.
• Sunday (Round 4): Final round. Trophy ceremony immediately after the last putt.

How Players Get Into LIV Golf Louisiana

LIV Golf does not run event-by-event qualifying like the PGA Tour. Players earn their spots through the league’s franchise system and compete at every regular-season stop throughout the year.

That means the full 57-player roster shows up at Bayou Oaks automatically. No separate field releases, no sponsor exemption drama, no big-name absences. Every contracted player is in.

How the System Works:

• Team franchise players are locked in through multi-year contracts with their LIV Golf team
• Top 34 players in the season-long standings (Lock Zone) secure their contract for the following season
• Players finishing positions 35-46 (Open Zone) must be retained or selected by another team
• Players finishing positions 47-57 (Drop Zone) face relegation and must re-qualify at the annual LIV Golf Promotions event
• Five Wild Card positions provide additional entry pathways into the league each season

Established Stars and Major Champions:

• Jon Rahm (Legion XIII): 2023 Masters champion and back-to-back LIV Golf Individual Champion for 2024 and 2025. Leads the 2026 standings by a wide margin and has already won twice this season.
• Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC): 2024 U.S. Open champion and the only player keeping pace with Rahm in the 2026 title race. Won in back-to-back starts earlier this season.
• Bubba Watson (RangeGoats GC): Two-time Masters champion and the emotional heart of this event. Grew up on the Gulf Coast and won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2011.
• Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC): Former World No. 1 and two-time major champion. Dangerous when his iron game fires on Sunday afternoon.
• Cameron Smith (Ripper GC): 2022 Open Championship winner and one of the best putters in the world. Thrives on courses demanding precision and scrambling.
• Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC): 2017 Masters champion leading an all-Spanish roster with decades of major championship experience.

Contenders and Rising Names:

• Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC)
• Talor Gooch (OKGC)
• Thomas Detry (4Aces GC)
• Abraham Ancer (Torque GC)
• Lucas Herbert (Ripper GC)
• Anthony Kim (4Aces GC)
• Dean Burmester (Southern Guards GC)
• Elvis Smylie (Ripper GC)

Important Note: Wild Card positions may shift week to week. Check LIV Golf official website for the most current confirmed groupings ahead of LIV Golf Louisiana.

Prize Money for LIV Golf Louisiana in 2026

LIV Golf Louisiana carries a $30 million total purse. Only The Players Championship on the PGA Tour tops that for weekly prize money in professional golf. Every player earns a check. Nobody leaves Bayou Oaks empty-handed whether they finish first or 57th.

The $30 million splits across two parallel competitions running simultaneously throughout all four rounds.

Purse History and 2026 Structure:

Year	Individual Purse	Team Purse	Total Purse	Winner’s Share
2022-2025	$20,000,000	$5,000,000	$25,000,000	$4,000,000
2026	$20,000,000	$10,000,000	$30,000,000	$4,000,000

The team purse doubled for 2026, with payouts now extending to all 13 competing teams rather than just the top three.

2026 Estimated Prize Money Payout (Individual):

Position	Estimated Payout
1st	$4,000,000
2nd	$2,250,000
3rd	$1,400,000
5th	~$850,000
10th	~$530,000
20th	~$260,000
Last (57th)	$50,000

Team Purse Highlights:

• 1st place team: $3,000,000
• 2nd place team: $1,500,000
• 3rd place team: $750,000
• Last place team (13th): $200,000

Points and Competitive Rewards:

• 200 individual season-long points toward the Individual Championship race
• The year-end Individual Championship winner earns an additional $18 million bonus
• Official World Golf Ranking points for the top 10 individual finishers
• Season-long team points toward the end-of-season Team Championship for all four members

How to Watch LIV Golf Louisiana 2026

When LIV Golf Louisiana debuts, all U.S. coverage airs live on the FOX Sports family of networks. FOX holds broadcast rights for the entire 2026 LIV Golf season, covering nearly 210 hours of live competition across its platforms.

Coverage spans FOX, FS1, FS2, and FOX Business Network depending on the round. Exact broadcast windows for the rescheduled fall event will be confirmed by FOX Sports once new dates are officially announced.

Streaming Options:

• FOX Sports App and FOX One: Full live stream of all FOX coverage every round
• LIV Golf+ App: Season Pass gives you live events, full replays, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content
• Sling TV: Carries FOX, FS1, and FS2 for full live streaming access
• Fubo TV: Includes FOX and FS1 throughout the tournament
• Australia: Channel 7 and 7Plus stream the full 2026 season free
• India and South Asia: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV
• United Kingdom: Sky Sports Golf
• SiriusXM: Radio coverage across all four rounds

Ticket Information and On-Site Access

Since no confirmed rescheduled dates exist as of June 2026, ticket details for the fall event have not been released. When dates are confirmed, tickets will be available at LIVGolf.com/louisiana.

LIV Golf events are full multi-day festivals combining elite golf with live music, DJ sets, local food, and non-stop entertainment from gates open to the final putt. Club 54, the premium hospitality zone at the 18th hole, offers all-inclusive access and elevated views throughout each round.

Phones are fully permitted at all LIV events. Fans can shoot content, follow live scoring, and share from anywhere on the course all week long.

Travel, Parking, and Accommodation Guide

Travel to New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is one of the most accessible cities in the American South, with strong domestic connections from across the country.

Nearest Airports:

• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): 20-25 miles from Bayou Oaks. The primary gateway for all visitors.
• Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR): Approximately 80 miles northwest. A secondary option for select domestic routes.

Atlanta (ATL) is the main international connection hub for overseas travelers heading to New Orleans.

Parking and Transportation:

Option	Details
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)	Designated drop-off zones near the main entrance. Most convenient for most visitors.
Canal Street Streetcar	Stops near City Park. Affordable and scenic from the French Quarter.
On-Site Parking	Limited. Arrive early on all competition days.
Bike	City Park is highly bike-friendly with on-site parking available.

Accommodation Options:

Area	Distance	Notes
Mid-City	1-2 miles	Closest to Bayou Oaks. Quieter, residential feel.
French Quarter	5 miles	Highest hotel density. Best nightlife access nearby.
Garden District	4-5 miles	Upscale hotels and rentals. Easy rideshare connections.
CBD / Downtown	5-6 miles	Major hotel brands with strong transit connections.

Travel Tip: Book early. LIV Golf Louisiana will be one of New Orleans’ biggest event weeks of the year. The best rates go fast once dates are confirmed.

Charity and Community Impact

LIV Golf Louisiana was projected to generate approximately $40 million in economic impact for New Orleans and support over 1,150 local jobs during event week.

Even with the postponement, the $2 million invested in Bayou Oaks course improvements stays with City Park permanently. Those upgraded greens, improved drainage, and new turf benefit local golfers and park visitors year-round, well beyond any single tournament week.

When the debut finally arrives, New Orleans hotels, restaurants, and local vendors are in line for one of the biggest golf-driven economic weeks in the city’s recent history.

Final Thoughts

LIV Golf Louisiana 2026 has everything it needs to be genuinely special. A $30 million purse, 57 elite players, an upgraded public course in one of America’s most electric cities, and a festival format that fits New Orleans perfectly.

The postponement is a real setback. But the course is ready, the partnerships hold, and both sides are pushing hard for fall. And with financial uncertainty hanging over LIV Golf’s future beyond this season, getting this inaugural edition right matters more than it ever would have otherwise.

When that opening shotgun fires at Bayou Oaks, New Orleans will deliver. The only question is when.

Key Takeaways

• LIV Golf Louisiana 2026 is the first-ever LIV Golf event in New Orleans, Louisiana, held at Bayou Oaks at City Park.
• Originally scheduled for June 25-28, 2026, the event was officially postponed.
• Players compete over 72 holes of stroke play with a shotgun start each round and no cuts applied at any stage.
• All 57 contracted league players compete at every regular-season event through the franchise system with no separate event-by-event qualifying.
• The total purse is $30 million, split between a $20 million individual prize pool and a $10 million concurrent team competition.
• The individual winner earns $4 million. All 57 players earn prize money down to $50,000 guaranteed for last place.
• Bayou Oaks South Course received over $2 million in permanent state-funded upgrades including new greens, improved drainage, and upgraded spectator zones.
• All U.S. coverage airs on the FOX Sports family of networks, with full streaming on the FOX Sports App and LIV Golf+ app.
• Bubba Watson carries the biggest hometown storyline as a Gulf Coast native and two-time Masters champion competing close to home.
• Saudi PIF’s announced withdrawal of funding beyond 2026 means this inaugural event could end up being the only edition ever played in Louisiana, adding rare historical weight to the debut.

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