Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer said it is "highly unlikely" that next month's team championship will take place amid LIV Golf's pursuit of investors to keep the league going in 2027.
The league returned Thursday for the opening round of LIV Golf United Kingdom following a hiatus since early June due to the indefinite postponement of its inaugural New Orleans event. Kaymer said he believes the final two individual events of 2026 will take place, but he put a 5% chance on the season-ending team
championship going forward in Plymouth, Mich.
The league is seeking funding for next season after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced that it would be withdrawing its financial support. Kaymer said the players remain in the dark about the league's future as CEO Scott O'Neil attempts to secure funding, reported to be $350 million.
A decision about the team event is reportedly expected to be made by Tuesday.
"There was a conversation on Wednesday: Michigan, highly unlikely. According to (the discussion on) Wednesday, it didn't look good," Kaymer, the captain of Cleeks GC, told Today's Golfer.
"We were hoping for a bit more information (from the meeting). We got the information, but we were more looking for decisions or what is happening next year.
"Unfortunately, even Scott can't tell us because he doesn't know. It depends so much on the investors."
Kaymer was aware of the Golf Channel report this week that there have been talks of turning the final individual event in Indianapolis into a team event instead.
"I think that would be a shame that we get reduced even more individual tournaments," Kaymer said. "On the other hand, how do you want to have a team winning the whole season if you don't have a team event? We need to be honest. The whole season was a bit of a ... there was so much happening. Yeah.
"Canceled New Orleans. Canceled most likely the last event. So I think it's important to just finish the season and hopefully we'll have a plan for 2027."
Individual points leader Jon Rahm said earlier this week that he was "in contact" with the decision-makers as LIV seeks to find a funding stream but added that in terms of details there were none "I can share with you guys right now."
LIV suffered another blow this week with the Asian Tour announcing that it will align with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The Asian Tour currently serves as a feeder circuit, including a lucrative set of events called the International Series that has offered pathways to LIV.
Minus the Asian Tour partnership, LIV would no longer be able to pursue the concept of a reimagined league built around national opens.
Golf Digest reported Thursday that LIV players who are also DP World Tour members have been having "regular discussions" with the European circuit about 2027. According to the report, there are other players who are not current DP World Tour members who are exploring their options for next year as well, including the possibility of playing on the tour's developmental circuit, the HotelPlanner Tour.
A report by Flushing It said that seven players told the social media golf outlet they plan to leave LIV Golf following the 2026 season regardless of whether the league secures new funding or not.
According to the report, O'Neil held a meeting with the team captains this week after the Asian Tour news broke but was unable to provide many details on the state of the funding search.
"I think there's a lot of interest and it's looking good," said Kaymer, a 41-year-old German. "But we've all been there. If the signature is not there, then it doesn't mean anything.
"In the end, if those investors decide to pull out, then we don't play golf next year on LIV Golf. And if they decide to do it, then we have a chance."
Following this week's event at JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester, England, LIV is due to play at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (N.J.) from Aug. 6-9 and at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind., from Aug. 20-23. The team championship is slated for Aug. 27-30 at The Cardinal at Saint John's in Plymouth, Mich.
--Field Level Media
