In 2022, Cameron Younger acknowledged he had critically thought of leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. What he did not reveal was simply how shut he got here.
New chapter information filed by LIV Golf present Younger had signed a proposal of intent with the breakaway league earlier than in the end deciding to stay with the PGA Tour.
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Younger’s near-departure is one in every of a number of revelations contained within the monetary information, which supply a deeper take a look at the cash LIV spent on gamers and executives earlier than submitting for Chapter 11 chapter safety Sept. 8.
“Clearly it is the elephant within the room for everybody. Frankly, all through the entire course of with (LIV Golf), I used to be very . I believe they’ve a bunch of fine concepts and are performing some cool stuff,” Younger mentioned in August 2022. “With among the adjustments coming (to the PGA Tour), that is sort of what actually helped me determine to sort of keep and pursue these targets that I’ve for myself like making a Presidents Cup crew and a Ryder Cup crew and successful a serious, when all of that’s simply unsure if you happen to go. That is a troublesome place for me as a result of, you already know, I am very younger and there are a whole lot of components.”
Finally, Younger stayed with the PGA Tour and has since received thrice, together with the 2026 Gamers Championship. He stands second on the 2026 PGA Tour cash record with greater than $15 million in earnings.
The information additionally revealed that Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s former commissioner and CEO, acquired greater than $9.4 million when he left the league in September 2025, together with a settlement of about $5.8 million and a $3.6 million bonus.
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His successor, Scott O’Neil, acquired a $6.375 million retention bonus on June 24, lower than three months earlier than LIV filed for chapter. That adopted one other bonus of roughly $2.7 million on Feb. 13.
From Sept. 12, 2025, by means of Aug. 28, O’Neil acquired greater than $13.6 million in payroll, bonuses, advantages, retention funds and expense reimbursements, based on the courtroom information.
Cameron Younger on the eighth inexperienced throughout the second spherical of the 2026 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Membership.
All instructed, LIV paid roughly $15.6 million in retention funds to prime executives. Chief monetary officer David Phillips acquired greater than $3.3 million, whereas chief authorized officer John Ruzich acquired about $2.6 million.
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These figures have surfaced as LIV tries to find out whether or not it has a future in any respect.
LIV Golf and its associated entities voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 safety Sept. 8, itemizing between $100 million and $500 million in property and $500 million to $1 billion in liabilities.
The league has since been laying the groundwork for LIV 2.0, a reworked model of the circuit that could possibly be backed by London-based private-equity agency BC Companions.
U.S. Chapter Courtroom Decide Michael B. Kaplan permitted LIV to enter right into a restructuring plan with BC Companions that would present as a lot as $300 million in financing, together with an preliminary $4 million mortgage to assist maintain the league working throughout the Chapter 11 course of.
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BC Companions introduced earlier this month that it had made its preliminary monetary dedication, however the bigger funding comes with situations. Amongst them is LIV retaining a sure proportion of its gamers.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek and the golf coordinator for the USA In the present day Community.
This text initially appeared on Golfweek: Cameron Younger was nearer to becoming a member of LIV Golf than anybody knew