Sep 1, 2026 · 14 min
LIV Golf’s bankruptcy risk exposes its costly business model
9/1/26 - LIV Golf’s Bankruptcy Bet, Messi Retires, Seahawks $9.6B Sale
The episode connects LIV Golf’s possible Chapter 11 filing to its limited revenue, layoffs, lawsuits, and uncertain Saudi funding while tracking major sports-business developments.
- 1LIV Golf faces a potential Chapter 11 filing after layoffs, vendor lawsuits, limited revenue, and uncertainty around Saudi funding.
- 2GoodGood’s Callaway video controversy raises questions about executive accountability and possible changes to its personnel or content team.
- 3Venus Williams’ late-night U.S. Open appearance adds a historic scheduling story to headlines involving Messi, Scheffler, and the Seahawks sale.
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David Rumsey details how layoffs, vendor lawsuits, limited revenue, and uncertain Saudi funding have pushed LIV Golf toward a possible Chapter 11 filing.
The brief
Baker Machado opens with a crowded sports-business slate: Lionel Messi’s international retirement, Scottie Scheffler’s earnings record, Venus Williams’ U.S. Open appearance, and the Seahawks’ $9.6 billion sale.
GoodGood’s response to its controversial Callaway video becomes a test of accountability, as executives accept responsibility while employees appear to have taken the blame for approving it.
David Rumsey explains why LIV Golf may seek Chapter 11 protection after layoffs, vendor lawsuits, limited revenue, and the loss of expected funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The central tension is whether bankruptcy could reset LIV Golf’s expensive model or expose the limits of building a league around uncertain outside funding.
Venus Williams’ opening-round match began unusually late after a lengthy Novak Djokovic match, making the 46-year-old’s night-session appearance a notable U.S. Open moment.