Cameron Smith has voiced confidence that the LIV Golf season‑ending Team Championship, slated for August 27‑30 in Michigan, will still take place despite the swirling uncertainty surrounding the league’s future. In a recent interview, Smith explained that the players have been instructed to prepare as though the event is happening, and he remains hopeful that the tournament will unfold as scheduled. The doubt surrounding the final tournament began to surface after a series of unsettling developments.
Earlier this year, Martin Kaymer, a major‑champion who has been vocal about the challenges facing LIV Golf, suggested there was only about a five‑percent chance that the season‑closing event would actually occur. His skepticism was fueled by the broader turmoil within the breakaway league, which was launched in 2021 with the ambition of challenging the established PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. The launch created a seismic shift in professional golf, attracting a number of high‑profile players with lucrative contracts and a new competition format. However, the league’s financial foundation has been shaken.
In April, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which had been the primary backer of LIV Golf, announced that it would cease funding the series. This decision left the organization scrambling for alternative sources of capital, prompting a frantic search for a "new lead investor" to keep the venture afloat. The withdrawal of PIF support has raised questions about the viability of the league beyond the current season, and many players are left wondering what their professional futures might look like. Amid these concerns, Smith has chosen to stay optimistic.
"We have been told to prepare as though it's going ahead. So we are expecting it to happen," he said.
He added that the previous year’s event in Detroit had been a success, with a great course, a fantastic venue, and enthusiastic crowds. "I would be disappointed if it wasn’t," he remarked, underscoring his desire to see the tournament proceed. When asked if he had begun exploring options to join another tour, Smith indicated that he has not yet taken any steps in that direction.
"I am a positive guy, so I've made no effort to go seek anything else," he explained. Instead, his focus remains on "keeping the team alive" and supporting his fellow LIV players. He expressed a deep appreciation for the camaraderie within the group, noting that the environment helps each member become a better golfer and a better person. Smith also acknowledged the possibility that, should the league dissolve, many players might find themselves returning to the PGA Tour.
"If it was the only option, I think that's where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 per cent," he said, adding that such a scenario would feel like a return to "old times." Following Smith’s comments, a player meeting was convened, reportedly led by Bryson DeChambeau. During the gathering, the participants discussed the precarious situation and tried to gauge the next steps.
According to fellow LIV golfer Richard Bland, DeChambeau outlined that the coming two to three weeks would be crucial in revealing the full picture of the league’s status. "Bryson just ran through what he knows, and obviously, we're trying to do it as a group, but we're individuals as well," Bland told The Athletic. "I think the next two to three weeks is going to be where it's at." Bland emphasized that the players are united in their support for Scott O'Neil, the league’s chief executive, and are hopeful that a clearer resolution will emerge soon. "We're fully backing Scott.
I think probably in the next two to three weeks we'll have a bigger picture," he said. Yet, when pressed about the likelihood of the Team Championship occurring, Bland admitted uncertainty: "I don't know.
We have just got to wait and see on that." Not all players were as forthcoming. Veteran Lee Westwood declined to comment on the meeting, stating, "No, I'm not talking about it. Bland shouldn't be either," suggesting a desire to keep discussions private until more concrete information is available. The broader context of LIV Golf’s challenges includes the need to secure new investment, renegotiate broadcast agreements, and address player contracts that may be in limbo.
The league’s innovative format—featuring 54‑hole events, team competition, and a points‑based season finale—has attracted both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that it offers a fresh alternative to the traditional tour structure, while critics contend that it undermines the established order of professional golf. Despite the financial upheaval, many players remain committed to the vision that originally drew them to LIV Golf: a more player‑centric approach, larger prize pools, and the opportunity to compete in a team‑oriented environment.
Smith’s remarks reflect this sentiment, as he highlighted the enjoyment and personal growth he experiences within the league. "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," he said. In summary, Cameron Smith’s optimism stands in contrast to the prevailing uncertainty that has enveloped LIV Golf since the PIF’s funding withdrawal.
While the league is actively seeking new investors and attempting to solidify its operational framework, the next few weeks will be decisive in determining whether the season‑ending Team Championship in Michigan will proceed as planned or be postponed indefinitely. Players like Smith, DeChambeau, and Bland are working together to navigate this turbulent period, hoping that a resolution can be reached that preserves the league’s ambitious goals and provides a stable future for its participants.