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LIV Golf Settles Trademark Lawsuit With Stinger Golf for $1 Million Amid Ongoing Financial Struggles
In a July 6, 2025 settlement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, LIV Golf agreed to pay $1 million to Ohio‑based tee manufacturer Stinger Golf after a lawsuit that had originally sought $100 million. The case stemmed from LIV’s use of the name “Stinger Golf Club” for one of its inaugural teams in 2022.
Stinger Golf, which produces roughly 20 million golf tees annually for retail and online sales across the United States, filed suit on June 2, 2025, claiming that LIV Golf had used its trademarked name without permission. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Miami and named LIV Golf, World Wide Golf Brands, and the Stinger GC team as defendants. The company sought damages for the alleged infringement.
According to a statement from Stinger’s attorney, partner Brian Barakat of Barakat + Bossa, the settlement was reached not because the case was weak but because Stinger Golf believed LIV Golf was facing imminent bankruptcy. Barakat told Front Office Sports that the company was “very confident to go to trial” and that the decision to accept $1 million was a business calculation based on the financial realities of the league.
LIV Golf’s financial situation has deteriorated sharply in recent years. The league’s international operations posted a loss of nearly $600 million in 2024, and cumulative losses since the league’s inception in 2021 total about $1.1 billion. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and primary backer of LIV, announced in April 2026 that it would cease funding the league after the 2026 season. Since then, LIV has been seeking new investors to keep the league running.
The team that originally bore the Stinger name was rebranded as Southern Guards GC in 2026, a move that coincided with the settlement. The Southern Guards GC team features South African golfers Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, and Dean Burmester.
Only LIV Golf is required to pay the settlement amount. The agreement does not alter the ownership or branding of the Southern Guards GC team. The settlement was filed in the same court that handled the original lawsuit.
The $1 million payment represents a fraction of the damages Stinger Golf sought, but the settlement underscores the league’s liquidity challenges. Stinger’s attorney noted that the amount “doesn’t represent all the damages that our client suffered,” but that the company accepted the lower figure because of concerns about LIV’s financial viability.
LIV Golf’s legal troubles are part of a broader pattern of litigation. In recent weeks the league has faced lawsuits from technology firms over unpaid licensing fees and from other suppliers over contractual disputes. These legal challenges add to the financial strain that already includes the loss of PIF support.
The settlement leaves several questions unresolved. It is unclear whether LIV Golf will secure new funding before the 2027 season, or whether the league will continue to operate with reduced sponsorship and prize money. Stinger Golf has not announced plans to pursue further legal action, and the league has not indicated whether it will seek additional trademark protections.
As LIV Golf prepares for its next season, the league’s financial health remains a key concern for players, sponsors, and investors. The settlement with Stinger Golf is a small but telling indicator of the league’s current cash flow constraints.
The outcome of the settlement also highlights the importance of trademark protection for small manufacturers in the sports equipment industry. While the case was settled out of court, it serves as a reminder that larger entities can face significant legal and financial consequences when they infringe on established trademarks.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch for any announcements regarding new investors for LIV Golf and any further legal actions that may arise from the league’s ongoing financial challenges. The resolution of the Stinger Golf case may influence how other manufacturers approach trademark disputes with large sports leagues.
Stinger Golf, which produces roughly 20 million golf tees annually for retail and online sales across the United States, filed suit on June 2, 2025, claiming that LIV Golf had used its trademarked name without permission. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Miami and named LIV Golf, World Wide Golf Brands, and the Stinger GC team as defendants. The company sought damages for the alleged infringement.
According to a statement from Stinger’s attorney, partner Brian Barakat of Barakat + Bossa, the settlement was reached not because the case was weak but because Stinger Golf believed LIV Golf was facing imminent bankruptcy. Barakat told Front Office Sports that the company was “very confident to go to trial” and that the decision to accept $1 million was a business calculation based on the financial realities of the league.
LIV Golf’s financial situation has deteriorated sharply in recent years. The league’s international operations posted a loss of nearly $600 million in 2024, and cumulative losses since the league’s inception in 2021 total about $1.1 billion. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and primary backer of LIV, announced in April 2026 that it would cease funding the league after the 2026 season. Since then, LIV has been seeking new investors to keep the league running.
The team that originally bore the Stinger name was rebranded as Southern Guards GC in 2026, a move that coincided with the settlement. The Southern Guards GC team features South African golfers Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, and Dean Burmester.
Only LIV Golf is required to pay the settlement amount. The agreement does not alter the ownership or branding of the Southern Guards GC team. The settlement was filed in the same court that handled the original lawsuit.
The $1 million payment represents a fraction of the damages Stinger Golf sought, but the settlement underscores the league’s liquidity challenges. Stinger’s attorney noted that the amount “doesn’t represent all the damages that our client suffered,” but that the company accepted the lower figure because of concerns about LIV’s financial viability.
LIV Golf’s legal troubles are part of a broader pattern of litigation. In recent weeks the league has faced lawsuits from technology firms over unpaid licensing fees and from other suppliers over contractual disputes. These legal challenges add to the financial strain that already includes the loss of PIF support.
The settlement leaves several questions unresolved. It is unclear whether LIV Golf will secure new funding before the 2027 season, or whether the league will continue to operate with reduced sponsorship and prize money. Stinger Golf has not announced plans to pursue further legal action, and the league has not indicated whether it will seek additional trademark protections.
As LIV Golf prepares for its next season, the league’s financial health remains a key concern for players, sponsors, and investors. The settlement with Stinger Golf is a small but telling indicator of the league’s current cash flow constraints.
The outcome of the settlement also highlights the importance of trademark protection for small manufacturers in the sports equipment industry. While the case was settled out of court, it serves as a reminder that larger entities can face significant legal and financial consequences when they infringe on established trademarks.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch for any announcements regarding new investors for LIV Golf and any further legal actions that may arise from the league’s ongoing financial challenges. The resolution of the Stinger Golf case may influence how other manufacturers approach trademark disputes with large sports leagues.
