LIV Golf’s U.K. event this past weekend—the league’s return from a 47-day summer break—went off without a hitch, but as the action played out on the course, more questions emerged about LIV’s immediate and long-term future.
Crowd sizes at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire, England, were noticeable—nearly 20,000 fans were on site for the tournament’s third round Saturday, according to LIV announcer Arlo White. Popular British electronic music duo Chase & Status performed a concert Saturday after play concluded, as is typical at most LIV events. Total attendance numbers for the four-day event have not been released but could likely surpass last year’s 43,000-person figure, which was across three days.
Australian Lucas Herbert won the $4 million first-place prize from the tournament’s $30 million purse—but LIV’s long-term cash flow was cast into doubt before the first tee shots were even hit Thursday. Martin Kaymer, captain of LIV’s Cleeks GC team, told Today’s Golfer on Wednesday that the LIV Golf Michigan team championship event scheduled for Aug. 27–30 is “highly unlikely” to be played. As of last week, there had been no infrastructure buildout at the host course, The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort, per The Detroit News.
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 actually 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.
But the closing stretch of the 2026 LIV season has been in doubt since the Saudi PIF announced it would stop funding the league after this year. As LIV embarked on its summer break last month, there was a growing sentiment among those in and around the league that the funding from the PIF could dry up even earlier than expected, multiple sources told Front Office Sports at the time. “I don’t think they’ll ever get to Michigan,” one source told FOS last month. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil last month wouldn’t guarantee that all four remaining events would take place as scheduled.
Before the team championship in Michigan, LIV has two more regular-season events scheduled in August at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey (Aug. 6–9) and one just outside Indianapolis (Aug. 20–23). Each of those events is set to pay out the league’s standard $30 million purse.
LIV’s Money Matters
Should the Michigan team championship not be played, it would be the second LIV event this season to be cancelled. LIV Golf Louisiana, what was to be the league’s debut tournament in New Orleans in late June, was cancelled in April.
As of now, the state of Louisiana is still waiting on LIV to pay back $1.2 million the league previously received from the state as partial payment for a $5 million hosting fee, a spokesperson for Louisiana Economic Development (LED) told FOS. The state remains in formal discussions with LIV on next steps, so there is no specific timeline for the repayment, according to the spokesperson.
Those talks continue as LIV earlier this month agreed to pay $1 million to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit—and was then sued by a former technology partner seeking more than $1.1 million for breach of contract and unpaid invoices.
Meanwhile, existing lawsuits continue in the U.K. with the World Golf Group and Premier Golf League, who are seeking damages up to $630 million from LIV and the Saudi PIF, claiming LIV stole their ideas for a worldwide golf league—as well as in the U.S. with vodka distillery Long Island Spirits in a trademark infringement case around “LIV” branding.
Investor Search Continues
The uncertainty surrounding the conclusion of LIV’s 2026 season comes as league leaders continue their search for new investors, seeking up to $350 million. Potential backers include private equity firms, wealthy individuals, and family offices. U.K.-based golf outlet Bunkered reported last week that LIV “has narrowed its hunt down to two potential investors.”
LIV is likely operating under a Sept. 1 deadline to secure new funding, according to industry sources and multiple reports.
