LIV Golf: Cameron Smith expecting season-ending competition to go ahead as Bryson DeChambeau leads player meeting
There is ongoing doubt as to whether LIV Golf's season-ending Team Championship will take place in Michigan from August 27-30; the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund confirmed in April it is ending its funding for the series
Wednesday 5 August 2026 08:19, UK
Cameron Smith says he is expecting LIV Golf's season-ending Team Championship to go ahead as Bryson DeChambeau led a player meeting to discuss the future of the league.
Uncertainty over LIV's final tournament of the season, which takes place on August 27-30 in Michigan, has lingered, major winner Martin Kaymer previously suggesting that he did not think the event would occur, giving it just a five per cent chance of happening.
The creation of LIV Golf sent shockwaves through the golfing world following its inception in 2021, where it was positioned as a rival to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
- Jon Rahm tight-lipped on whether he will be in LIV Golf in 2027
- Live golf on Sky Sports this week
- Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract
But now, the future of the breakaway golf league beyond the end of this season also remains in doubt after the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund confirmed in April it is ending its funding for the series. LIV is now bidding to seek alternative investment.
While there is so much up in the air, Smith remained optimistic that the season would draw to its scheduled conclusion in Michigan.
"We have been told to prepare as though it's going ahead. So we are expecting it to happen," he said.
"I'm really unsure, but we had a great year there last year in Detroit, and we're hoping we get back there.
"It is a great golf course, a great venue, and the crowds really turned up as well. I would be disappointed if it wasn't."
Asked whether he has made preparations to join another Tour, Smith said he has not started to make those movements and is instead focused on "keeping the team alive".
"I am a positive guy, so I've made no effort to go seek anything else," he said.
"I don't really understand what is going to happen. I think it's all up in the air. I know that the LIV team is working hard to get us to play next year and working hard for us. They do a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
"I want it to work to be honest. It is great fun out here. The team that we've got, I feel like we make each other better, better people and better golfers as well.
"I would hate to see it go away."
Smith did concede that there was a possibility that he could be left with little option but to return to the PGA Tour.
"I mean, if it was the only option, I think that's where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 per cent," he added.
"It would go back to old times."
DeChambeau leads player meeting on LIV Golf's future
Following Smith's comments, the LIV Golf players had a meeting which was reportedly led by DeChambeau as they discussed the future of the league.
According to Richard Bland, DeChambeau said the next couple of weeks will be when the full picture of the situation comes to light.
However, he is "positive" with what they are hearing is going on.
"Bryson just ran through what he knows, and obviously, we're trying to do it as a group, but we're individuals as well, so I think the next two to three weeks is going to be where it's at," Bland told The Athletic.
"We're in this together; we're fully backing Scott (O'Neil). I think probably in the next two to three weeks we'll have a bigger picture.
"We're just in that kind of stage at the minute that we're positive with what's going on, but we just need everything to be fully signed off so you can go forward."
And on whether the Team Championship will take place, Bland added: "I don't know. We have just got to wait and see on that."
Lee Westwood was less forthcoming when asked about his insight into the player meeting and said: "No, I'm not talking about it. Blandy shouldn't be either."
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland
