The next few weeks will decide much about the future of LIV Golf, as the key dates for its agreement with BC Partners approach. But recent files open a window on how tense and complicated it is bankruptcy filing it can be
Take the case of Kooyonga Golf Club, scheduled to host LIV Golf in Adelaide, Australia, in March 2027. As part of LIV’s long success Down UnderKooyonga was announced as a future LIV host (for March 18-21, 2027) almost a year ago (October 5, 2025).
The term sheet between LIV and its future host was signed six months before Saudi Arabia formally announced its latest financial strategy, part of which called for the end of LIV Golf’s financing. In other words, Kooyonga signed a deal that suddenly feels a lot less stable than it did on signing day.
It was at that time, the spring of this year, that the CEO of LIV Golf, Scott O’Neil, and his organization decided to push forward and try to support the rival golf league despite the bank accounts that would soon crater. Kooyonga was part of that plan, but his contract stipulated that 50% of his hosting fee would be paid by LIV at the beginning of July.
Ultimately, according to the bankruptcy filing, Kooyonga was treated like many other recent LIV sellers: He didn’t get paid. LIV asked for a payment extension, according to Kooyonga chief executive Brett Lewis, and filed for bankruptcy just days before the payment was due.
There is a long list of entities that owe money from LIV Golf, but Kooyonga is unique. It is both part of LIV 1.0 and, important for all parties, among the first courses reserved for LIV 2.0, as long as LIV does not cancel its contract.
Which brings us to today. As the host of the place, Kooyonga argues that he needs to know if his contract will be maintained or rejected so that he can stop the preparation of the course or continue the journey to host the league. According to the files, Kooyonga blocked part of the first four months of 2027 to rent his hosting duties, time that could be returned to the club if LIV rejects his contract. Potential damages just for the next month of continued work, Kooyonga argues, would be about $70,000. Naturally, the club wants some clarity.
But as we learn, a cascade of decisions not involving Kooyonga must be made first. In order to reach a formal and finalized agreement with BC Partners, LIV Golf needs to gain commitments from a required number and rank of players for LIV 2.0 by October 13. Some of their biggest targets have been vague about their interest.
Just a couple of weeks ago, for example, Jon Rahm was asked about his options, the contract he signed with LIV in the first place and what could happen.
“There is a long legal process (LIV has) to go through before many things fall into place,” Rahm said. “I can’t really give you an answer right now.”
When pressed to honor his contract and commit to LIV 2.0, Rahm said, “I said what I said.”
Elsewhere, in France, LIV star Cameron Smith told Evin Priest: “We’re in a bit of a limbo (as players)” and that “It’s hard to make a decision when you don’t have at least some of the answers to make the right decision, or any decision. We need more answers.”
LIV responded to Kooyonga’s payment motion – as it spends heavily in advance of the event that may or may not be hosted in March – asking the bankruptcy judge to be patient while the league first resolves its other business orders, and to rule during a hearing on November 5.
Kooyonga asked the judge to make a snappier judgment and rule on his status on October 7. Judge Michael Kaplan opted for a decision in the middle, finding October 22 a suitable date.
As such, the list of decisions that LIV has to make and the commitments that it has to earn in the coming weeks continues to be longer.
