Cameron Young was closer to leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf than anyone ever knew, a revelation that just dropped from new bankruptcy records filed by LIV Golf. This wasn’t just a “considering it” situation. The records show Young actually signed an offer of intent with the breakaway league back in 2022 before ultimately deciding to stay with the PGA Tour. Think about that for a second. He was *that* close.
The Near Miss That Made a Career
Young himself admitted in August 2022 that he was “very interested” in LIV Golf, saying they had “a bunch of good ideas and are doing some cool stuff.” But he also spoke about the uncertainty of going and how PGA Tour changes helped him decide to stay, pursuing goals like making Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams, and winning a major. “That’s a tough place for me because, you know, I’m very young and there are a lot of factors,” he said. And boy, did that decision pay off. Since staying, Young has won three times, including the massive 2026 Players Championship. He is currently sitting second on the 2026 PGA Tour money list with an incredible haul of over $15 million in earnings. It makes you wonder how different things could have been.
LIV Golf’s Financial Mess and Executive Payouts
Young’s near-departure is just one piece of the wild story unfolding in these financial records, which pull back the curtain on the money LIV spent before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 8. And when we talk money, we’re talking serious cash, especially for the top brass. Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s former commissioner and CEO, walked away with over $9.4 million when he left in September 2025, which included a $5.8 million settlement and a $3.6 million bonus. His successor, Scott O’Neil, received a $6.375 million retention bonus on June 24, less than three months before the bankruptcy filing, on top of another bonus of approximately $2.7 million on February 13. All told, from September 12, 2025, through August 28, O’Neil raked in over $13.6 million in payroll, bonuses, benefits, retention payments, and expense reimbursements. Other executives also saw huge payouts, with chief financial officer David Phillips getting over $3.3 million and chief legal officer John Ruzich receiving about $2.6 million. Approximately $15.6 million in retention payments went to top executives in total.
LIV Golf is now trying to figure out if it even has a future, listing assets between $100 million and $500 million, but liabilities between $500 million and $1 billion. They’re working on “LIV 2.0,” a reworked circuit potentially backed by London-based private-equity firm BC Partners. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Michael B. Kaplan, permitted a restructuring plan with BC Partners that could bring up to $300 million in financing, with an initial $4 million loan to keep things running during the Chapter 11 process. BC Partners has already made that initial commitment, but the larger investment hinges on LIV retaining a certain percentage of its players. It’s a high-stakes gamble for the league, and for the players still involved, the uncertainty must be a real gut punch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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