LIV Golf demise edging closer, says South Australian premier

LIV Golf’s anticipated demise has moved a step closer, with South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas suggesting it was “game, set and match” for the breakaway circuit.

Four LIV events have been held in state capital Adelaide but Malinauskas cast doubt over the viability of the next competition that was due to take place at Kooyonga Golf Club in March, as well as the wider tournament.

The Financial Times has reported that BC Partners Credit, who had been lined up as potential backers following the withdrawal of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, have pulled out of a deal worth more almost $300 million due to an exodus of star players.

LIV had been forced to apply for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US, effectively cancelling playing contracts, with three-time champion Jon Rahm departing, while the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood are among those who see their future elsewhere.

While there has been no formal confirmation of liquidation, Malinauskas offered a pessimistic take.

He told ABC Adelaide: “It feels like it’s game, set and match as far as I can tell.

“That’s because BC Partners, that is the funders of LIV 2.0, I guess, have arrived at the same conclusion that we were (at): if you don’t get the players to sign up, then it doesn’t go ahead.

“Clearly the event, as far as we can tell, won’t be going ahead at Kooyonga next year.”

Speaking at a news conference, he added: “We’ve seen reports that BC Partners don’t intend to support LIV if they don’t get the players that are required, which is essentially consistent with the South Australian government’s position we’ve communicated to LIV for a while.

“I have reached out to LIV Golf over the last couple of hours and sought confirmation myself. It’s fair to say on all accounts, on all information we have before us, I think it’s not going to happen next year.”

World number two Rory McIlroy, who has been a vocal critic of the project from the start, offered a withering assessment of developments at a press conference ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.

“They took players, they took sponsors, they turned professional golf into an arms race. They were going around Augusta saying they wanted to destroy the European (DP World) Tour,” he said.

“I think people that don’t agree are probably very short-sighted. There was some of the money that they used the right way, created the International Series on the Asian Tour, great for a couple years, but where did that leave the Asian Tour? They left them high and dry.

“They created a false economy within men’s professional golf, and I think that there is going to be a bit of a reset here, just for things to be a little bit more sustainable.”

LIV Golf has been contacted for comment by the Press Association.