LIV Golf paid $15.6 million to retain seven of its executives, including $6.375 million to CEO Scott O'Neil, in the months between Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund saying it was ending financial support and LIV filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The payments are part of a trove of documents filed late Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey. That included 129 payments to creditors in the 90 days before LIV's bankruptcy filing and $26 million to Jon Rahm in the year before the Sept. 8 filing.
Another payment in the previous year was to Greg Norman, who left as LIV's first CEO in January 2025. He was paid a $5.8 million settlement and a $3.6 million bonus on Sept. 26, 2025.
LIV Golf is trying to emerge from bankruptcy without the financial muscle of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which spent upward of $5 billion since the rival league launched in June 2022 and offered nine-figure bonuses to top PGA and European tour players.
BC Partners Credit has pledged up to $300 million to back what is being called “LIV 2.0.” Key to that is players staying with the league, and already a number of top players — Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Adrian Meronk and rising Spaniard David Puig — have separated from LIV agreements or indicated they are leaving.
It's not unusual for companies going through bankruptcy to compensate top executives to get through the process. Documents show David Phillipps, the chief financial officer, received a $3.37 million retention payment and John Ruzich, the chief legal officer, received $2.6 million, both on June 24. That's also when O'Neil was paid his $6.375 million.
O'Neil also received a $2.7 million bonus on Feb. 13, two weeks before the start of the Iran war and two months before PIF's board approved a new investment strategy that led to LIV Golf's funding ending after the 2026 season.
Payment to players include Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau (nearly $13.9 million), Dustin Johnson ($10.7 million) and Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson, both around $2.5 million.
LIV also faces two lawsuits for unpaid services. Canadian-based Mobbi Systems Group is seeking more than $1 million for supplying LIV's “Any Shot, Any Time” feature on broadcasts. Also, Colorado-based Fresh Tape Media seeks $1.2 million for producing LIV's media preview days.
Both are listed among the 129 creditors with unsecured claims.
O'Neil was asked at LIV's final event in August about Fresh Tape Media and other companies that haven't been paid and how he would attract new services going forward.
“What I would say to them is we’re doing everything we can to make sure we can do right by them and the work they committed, and I hope we can,” he said. “For the next generation, it will certainly be a different business with a different process.”
The creditors listed in court documents indicate the cost and expanse of LIV's tournaments around the world with 13 teams, including music being played during the round and concerts afterward.
Among the claims is $178,087.50 for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; $105,018.06 for Applause App Quality; $18,948.00 to Thailand-based Fenix Apparel and Accessories; and $35,416.66 to broadcaster Jerry Foltz.
LIV's bankruptcy proceeding has a Nov. 5 hearing in the bankruptcy court. BC Partners originally set a Sunday deadline for players to decide if they are on board for LIV 2.0, though that deadline can be extended under an amended restructuring agreement.
The new version is aiming for prize funds of about $9 million — down from $20 million for individual purses — with at least 10 tournaments and a focus on team golf.
See AP’s full golf coverage here
FILE - Captain Louis Oosthuizen of Southern Guards GC hits his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of MAADEN LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club on May 8, 2026 in Sterling, Va. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf, File)
FILE - LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, left, applauds Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament Sept. 18, 2022, in Sugar Hill, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - CEO of LIV Golf Scott O'Neil attends the Maaden LIV Golf Virginia tournament at Trump National Golf Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Sterling, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League ended in a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa, allowing Arsenal to move level on points atop the standings on Saturday.
Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa against a City that was aiming for an eighth straight league win. Victory extended Villa’s outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.
“It is incredible," Jackson said. "It was difficult but we got the win and that is the most important thing. Now we can focus on the next one.”
After City's defeat in the early kickoff, defending champion Arsenal took advantage by beating Everton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in each half for Mikel Arteta's team, which is second on goal difference.
Fulham beat Coventry 1-0 and Chelsea was playing Tottenham in the late kickoff.
Konsa scored his first goal for Arsenal since joining from Villa at the start of the season and ended the champion's run of 13 games without scoring from a set-piece.
Last season's title victory relied heavily on Arsenal's scoring efficiency from corners, in particular, but Konsa's scrambled goal after seven minutes was its first in any competition this term, excluding penalties.
“A goal from a set-piece has felt like it has been coming. Today was the day,” Konsa said.
Gabriel was also on target, heading in the second in the 68th for his first of the campaign.
After showing its Champions League credentials with a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich midweek, Arsenal strengthened its title defense with victory against Everton to move to neck and neck with City, with just goal difference separating them.
“We’re very happy with the victory, the performance and the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” Arteta said. “We just have to focus on what we can do, and we’re very pleased with 90% of the performances and results.”
Villa is rapidly climbing the standings after a desperate start to the campaign saw it fail to win its opening four games and picked up just one point.
The difficult start was understandable after a hugely disruptive offseason when a raft of star players left the club including Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.
Unai Emery, who transformed the club from relegation battler to Champions League contender, was forced to rebuild a team that won the Europa League last season, and has done that in double-quick time.
Villa's last defeat was on Sept. 12, to Nottingham Forest 2-1. Since then Emery's team is unbeaten.
Jackson is up to seven goals in all competitions. He fired the opener inside six minutes at Villa Park.
Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City fell to a fourth defeat at Villa Park in as many seasons.
“Emery is just a tactical genius. Especially against Man City at our place we have been really good," Villa defender Matty Cash said. “He always has a plan for something and is always coming up with new ideas. When you play against top teams you have to adapt and we did that today.”
Maresca said City would learn lessons from its first league defeat.
The Italian enjoyed a perfect start in England's top flight since succeeding Pep Guardiola in the offseason.
Villa joined Arsenal and European champion Paris Saint-Germain as the only teams to beat City in any competition this season.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose today, but we lost,” Maresca said. “You can always learn something.”
Oscar Bobb scored in the 80th to seal victory for Fulham at Coventry.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Arsenal's Kai Havertz, top, congratulates teammate Gabriel after he scored the second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz, top, and Gabriel celebrate second goal scoring second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates after scoring second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton in London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson, left, challenges for the ball with Manchester City's Marc Guehi during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
