LIV Golf Bankruptcy Filings Reveal Fight Over Kooyonga Deal

By Staff Writer

October 1, 2026

2 min read

LoopGolf

New bankruptcy filings show LIV Golf fighting with one of its own future hosts even as it races toward a mid-October deadline to close its sale to BC Partners. Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia, says it was never paid a hosting fee that came due in July, and top LIV players say they still don't have enough information to commit to the league's next iteration.

What Does the Kooyonga Dispute Show?

Kooyonga was announced as host of a LIV Golf event set for March 18-21, 2027, on Oct. 5, 2025. Its contract required LIV to pay 50% of the hosting fee by the start of July, but according to the filing, that payment never arrived. Kooyonga general manager Brett Lewis said the club asked for a status update; instead, LIV requested a payment extension and then filed for bankruptcy days before the money was due.

Kooyonga has already blocked off parts of the first four months of 2027 to prepare for the event and estimates it would take on about $70,000 in further costs for one more month of work without knowing whether LIV will keep or reject the contract. LIV asked the bankruptcy judge for patience and a Nov. 5 hearing; Kooyonga pushed for an Oct. 7 ruling. Judge Michael Kaplan split the difference.

Date	Event
Oct. 5, 2025	Kooyonga announced as 2027 LIV host
July 2026	50% hosting fee due; LIV does not pay
Oct. 13, 2026	Deadline for LIV to secure player commitments for BC Partners deal
Oct. 22, 2026	Judge Kaplan's scheduled ruling on Kooyonga's contract
March 18-21, 2027	LIV's scheduled Adelaide event, contingent on the ruling

What Are LIV Players Saying About Their Contracts?

To finalize its deal with BC Partners, LIV needs commitments from a required number of players by Oct. 13, and some of its biggest names have stayed noncommittal. Asked about the legal process ahead and whether he'd honor his LIV contract, Jon Rahm demurred, saying only, "I said what I said."

Cameron Smith, speaking in France, described a similar holding pattern, saying players are stuck in limbo and need more answers before they can make any decision at all.

A bankruptcy court's calendar is now shaping LIV Golf's 2027 schedule as much as its own player contracts.

Key takeaways

Kooyonga Golf Club says LIV never paid a hosting fee due in July for a March 2027 event in Adelaide.
LIV needs player commitments for a BC Partners sale by Oct. 13; Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith have both stopped short of committing.
Kooyonga estimates $70,000 in added costs for one more month of event prep without a decision on its contract.
Judge Michael Kaplan set an Oct. 22 ruling date on whether LIV keeps or rejects the Kooyonga contract.

Frequently asked questions

Is LIV Golf still holding its 2027 Adelaide event at Kooyonga?

That depends on a bankruptcy court ruling. Kooyonga says it hasn't been paid a required hosting fee and wants to know whether LIV will keep or reject its contract before committing further to event prep.