Tuesday, July 28, 2026

LIV Golf to Cancel $40M Season Finale in Michigan

LIV Michigan had been scheduled for Aug. 27–30 in suburban Detroit at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort.

Aug 22, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Fans gather at the 15th tee during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John's Resort. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

LIV Golf Michigan, the league’s $40 million team championship, is set to be officially canceled after the status of the 2026 season finale had come under serious doubt last week, sources tell Front Office Sports.

An official announcement on the cancellation is expected Wednesday, according to golf media personality Tom Hobbs, who runs the Flushing It social accounts, which first reported the news.

LIV Michigan had been scheduled for Aug. 27–30 in suburban Detroit at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort, which is owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. Spokespeople for LIV Golf, Saint John’s Resort, and the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation have yet to respond to a request for comment from FOS.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, there had not been any internal announcement or memo to players about the cancellation, one source told FOS. But the news does not come as a surprise to anyone inside or around LIV.

The team championship was one of two events FOS sources had pegged last month as being at the most risk of being canceled as a sentiment grew among those in and around LIV that the funding from the Saudi PIF—which has announced it would stop funding LIV after this season—could dry up even earlier than expected. The other event at most risk, per sources, was LIV’s regular-season finale in Indianapolis Aug. 20–23, but that is currently scheduled to still take place.

“I don’t think they’ll ever get to Michigan,” one source told FOS last month. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil also wouldn’t guarantee that all four remaining events would take place as scheduled.

Last week, Martin Kaymer, captain of LIV’s Cleeks GC team, told Today’s Golfer that the team championship event scheduled was “highly unlikely” to be played after leaving a captain’s meeting led by O’Neil with lingering questions. There has also been no infrastructure buildout at the host course, which also hosted LIV’s 2025 season finale last August. Aramco, the Saudi-owned oil company, was a primary sponsor of LIV Michigan.

This year’s team championship is supposed to pay out $40 million in prize money, with the winning squad taking home $11.2 million, which is down from $50 million and $14 million, respectively, in 2025. Last year’s season finale, also at The Cardinal, included concerts by Imagine Dragons and Swedish House Mafia. No musical acts for next month’s event had been confirmed.

This marks the second LIV event this season to be canceled. LIV Golf Louisiana, which was going to be the league’s debut tournament in New Orleans in late June, was canceled in April.

The removal of Michigan from LIV’s schedule reduces the league’s event total this season from a planned 14 tournaments to 12, and leaves just two more this year: LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey Aug. 6–9 and LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills. Both of those events are set to have the standard $30 million purses that LIV events have paid out this year.

LIV is still seeking new investors to replace the PIF’s financial backing, aiming to raise up to $350 million to keep the league alive in 2027.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL’s Next Commissioner: 11 Possible Roger Goodell Successors

NFL owners eventually will need a successor to Roger Goodell, just not yet.
Jun 28, 2026; Cromwell, Connecticut, USA; 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Dufour-Imagn Images

PGA Tour Unveils First Championship Series Events for 2028 Revamp

The top-tier events will include purses of at least $20 million.

FIFA Planning $20B Commercial Arm to Increase World Cup Profits

The move requires approval of a majority of FIFA members.
Feb 4, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers former receiver Steve Smith Sr. on the NFL Network set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive

Steve Smith Slated for ESPN Studio Role

The former All-Pro receiver has been with NFL Network since 2017.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/28/26 – 76ers’ Huge TV Boost, UNC GM Investigation, Stanford’s Unionization Process

0:00

Featured Today

Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium
July 16, 2026

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
Shaq Dunkman League

Could Shaq’s Dunkman League Revive the NBA Slam Dunk Contest?

The dunking league is hopeful to eventually work with the NBA.
July 28, 2026

World Cup Exit Spurs U.S. Soccer Push to Fix Pay-to-Play

Conversations about U.S. talent pipeline are moving from criticism to solutions.
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Spoon guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives the ball in the second half against Team Coop during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center.
July 28, 2026

WNBA Players Call for More Rest Time After All-Star Weekend

Players have complained about the post-All-Star schedule for years.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses the launch of Champions Fund and how he navigated the business world after football
Sponsored

The Football Marketing Offensive Playbook

Why football is a powerful brand stage in sports, and how to activate during the moments that matter most to football fans.
July 27, 2026

Packers Say Other NFL Teams Have An ‘ATM Machine’ They Lack

The NFL team reiterates it will not sell the Lambeau Field naming rights.
July 27, 2026

LIV’s Future Faces New Questions As Finale Appears in Doubt

LIV has three more events scheduled in August.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) during halftime against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
July 27, 2026

Big Names Remain Unsigned as NFL Training Camps Open

Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill are two receivers still available.