BC Partners walks on LIV 2.0 as Yamashita shares the Japan Classic lead

BC Partners Credit dropped its bid to put up to $300 million into LIV Golf 2.0 on Wednesday after Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann and Dustin Johnson stayed unsigned. Front Office Sports reported the deal "is not going to be signed," and Golf Channel listed a wind-down hearing for 11:30 a.m. ET Thursday. While that news landed, Miyu Yamashita opened the TOTO Japan Classic with a 6-under 66 and shared the lead with Aki Iwai and Sayaka Takahashi.

Platforms

A free Shanktuary app can turn two roughly $20 Wii Balance Boards into golf pressure plates (our story). A Rapsodo MLM2XPRO tester ran Payne's Valley quickly in Rapsodo Studios but flagged elevation readouts that missed (our story). Golf Sim Australia's six-step home-bay guide starts with the room before the launch monitor (our story). PurePlay early access is still set for Friday, Nov. 6.

Build & Gear

MyGolfSpy recirculated a 2012 driver-length test: a 43.75-inch shaft lost about half a yard to a 45.75-inch shaft and gained about 28% better accuracy. The post drew more than 160 likes Wednesday night.

Courses & Play

Annika Sörenstam's first WTGL design is SOS, a par 3 that can stretch to 233 yards (our story). Sky Sports locked exclusive UK rights to WTGL and extended TGL for two more years (our story). The World Wide Technology Championship opened Thursday at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal, a $6 million FedExCup Fall stop with Ben Griffin defending.

Creators

Grant Horvat shot 6 under and beat Big John by six in their first head-to-head (our story). In Internet Invitational Episode 3, Horvat also came through on a $150,000 hole, matching Cole after both groups clutched up. Jake Adams and Paige Spiranac had already cashed a $200,000 hole earlier in the episode. Bob Does Sports asked who clapped in Riggs' backswing, and Good Good's road trip hit Day 38 in Kentucky.

Swing Lab

For bay work, try the Shanktuary pressure-plate setup. For the range, take MyGolfSpy's shorter-shaft note into a fitting before you chase more length: the old test said accuracy moved more than distance when the driver got shorter.

The Game

LIV's relaunch hit its hardest stop yet. Josh Carpenter reported that none of the big names signed for 2.0, and Golf Channel said Thursday's hearing covers the wind-down (our story).

On the LPGA, Yamashita is chasing a fourth win of 2026 after Maybank. She, Aki Iwai and Sayaka Takahashi all shot 66 at Taiheiyo Club Minori. Twin Chizzy Iwai opened at 2 under. The purse is $2.1 million with no cut and 78 players.

Peter Broome, the longtime Acushnet executive who oversaw Titleist brand management, died Wednesday at 66 after living with ALS. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame this year and founded the ALS Bridge Foundation with his family. In Fort Worth, Team USA reclaimed the Simpson Cup at Shady Oaks, 12.5-6.5 over Great Britain, for its first outright win since 2021.

Coming up and why it matters

• Thursday, Nov. 5: Eamon Lynch's Golf Channel show opens with Jay Monahan (story). LIV wind-down hearing at 11:30 a.m. ET. Internet Invitational Episode 4 drops at 1 p.m. ET. Golf Channel covers El Cardonal in the afternoon window. Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship continues overnight into morning ET.
• Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 5-8: TOTO Japan Classic; FedExCup Fall status on the line at El Cardonal.
• Friday, Nov. 6: PurePlay early access and Odyssey TRTL putters at retail.
• Sunday, Nov. 8: WTGL debuts at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN with Los Angeles against New York (preview). Topgolf bays add TGL and WTGL holes the same day.

What to do now

Watch Thursday's LIV hearing if you follow the bankruptcy path, queue Episode 4 at 1 p.m. ET, and set a reminder for PurePlay early access Friday.