LIV Golf competitor Thomas Detry has alleged that a fellow tour member has been passing information from the league's private player chat to journalists, a situation he says has damaged confidence among the group amid the organisation's continuing financial pressures.
The bankruptcy filing by LIV came after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial backing from the organisation. According to filings, players including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith have outstanding payments owed to them totalling in the millions.
According to reports, BC Partners — the league's incoming lead financial backer — will only commit funding on the condition that its top talent remains on board.
Detry, who joined LIV only last year, voiced concern over a deterioration of trust between players and senior LIV figures, including CEO Scott O'Neil, which he attributed to repeated information being passed to the media, adding that a group chat exists among the player cohort. Speaking to a golf publication ahead of the DP World Tour's PGA Championship, due to begin later in the week, Detry said something appeared to be happening and that details both parties had mutually agreed to keep confidential were repeatedly becoming known to the public.
Detry noted that while the leaked information was not particularly consequential, it had created unease within the playing group about internal trust, with one player expressing discomfort at the prospect of private discussions being passed on to outside parties. Those developments coincide with LIV filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following widespread staff reductions and the cancellation of a planned event in Michigan after the season concluded in Indianapolis.
The bankruptcy filing also leaves the full playing roster at liberty to depart, with Rahm widely reported as a potential returnee to the PGA Tour.
Detry voiced ongoing support for LIV, noting that despite external distractions, the season had brought him both personal and professional fulfilment and that his game had benefited considerably from the experience. He noted that his spouse and children were settling in well, and described BC Partners as one of the largest private equity firms based in London.
Detry indicated that early signs pointed toward a potential improvement in the league's situation. He noted there had been missteps with what he referred to as LIV 1.0, and said his desire to remain was contingent on those issues being addressed going forward. He added that, given the freedom to compete anywhere, LIV Golf would be his preferred tour, with major championships and DP World Tour events used to fill out the remaining schedule.
