LIV Golf told its players in February they were fully funded until 2031. Five months later, one of its captains is giving the season finale a five percent chance of happening.

Martin Kaymer, captain of the Cleeks GC team, spoke to reporters on Wednesday, July 22, at JCB Golf and Country Club ahead of LIV Golf UK. He confirmed that the league's $40 million team championship, scheduled for The Cardinal at Saint John's in Plymouth, Michigan, next month, is "highly unlikely" to go ahead.

"I know that Indianapolis most likely is happening," Kaymer told Today's Golfer. "Michigan, highly unlikely. So basically, what we already knew. That's why I think it became a captains' meeting and not a players' meeting, because they couldn't give us much more than we had before."

Kaymer was present at a captains' meeting Tuesday afternoon. LIV CEO Scott O'Neil told players that investors had shown interest in the league but had not made any firm commitments.

A September deadline exists to secure the funding needed to continue beyond 2026, per Today's Golfer.

Kaymer did not hold back on what the season has looked like from inside the organization. "The whole season was a bit of a… there was so much happening," he said to Today's Golfer. "Cancelled New Orleans. Cancelled 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."

Martin Kaymer said The Cardinal has not yet built the required infrastructure, making that the main reason he gives the Michigan event only a five percent chance of happening.

LIV Golf will decide next Tuesday whether to officially cancel the event.

He remained blunt about what happens if investors do not come through and what the outcome means for the league's players and staff heading into 2027.

The Michigan news arrives as LIV absorbs another significant blow from the week.

LIV Golf lost its asian tour partnership days before Kaymer's comments

The Asian Tour announced a multi-year global alliance with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on Tuesday, July 22, the same day Kaymer spoke to reporters.

LIV had secured the Asian Tour as a partner in 2021, before the league's launch. The tour had provided pathways for LIV promotion and relegation and featured in the league's pitch to investors, including a plan for eight to 10 Asian Tour events per season. That is now gone.

Kaymer captured the weight of the moment in one quote. "We've been told in February we are fully funded until 2031 and two months later, it all goes down," he said, per Today's Golfer. "It would be a shame."

He still has not given up entirely. "They are working their arses off to get a deal," he said. "But 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."

Kaymer expects to know more at LIV's penultimate regular season event at Trump Bedminster in two weeks.

Do you think LIV Golf will survive beyond 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham