In February, a record Adelaide crowd watched Anthony Kim claim his first title in 16 years, prompting the state premier to call the week the biggest golf event in Australian history. But just seven months later, the league behind that spectacle—LIV Golf—is facing bankruptcy, casting serious doubt over whether the 2027 LIV Golf Adelaide can be staged on the same grand scale.
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With LIV’s financial outlook deteriorating, the club due to host next year’s event has taken the matter to a U.S. court. Meanwhile, the South Australian government has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding LIV’s future and has now given the league a legal deadline to resolve the situation.
Speaking to ABC Adelaide on Thursday in an exchange shared on X by Evin Priest, South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said, “Kooyonga is right to be asking these questions of LIV about whether it will be staged, what it will look like, who’s coming. These are questions that LIV have to answer. And look, we understand that, but the government is working very hard to make sure that we’ve got a replacement with the Australian Open, men and women, coming over the next six years to South Australia. So that’s a good outcome to replace LIV.”
The story begins with Kooyonga Golf Club, a private club in Lockleys, west of Adelaide, which was scheduled to host LIV Golf Adelaide from March 18 to 21, 2027, as an interim venue. The event had been held at The Grange for several years but was set for a temporary move to Kooyonga before relocating to the redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course in 2028.
As the tournament dates draw closer, and LIV remains entangled in bankruptcy proceedings, uncertainty over the 2027 event has intensified. Kooyonga Golf Club has now filed a motion in the U.S. bankruptcy court, seeking an order that would require LIV to confirm its plans for the tournament by November 6.
As for the club’s demands, they are focused on gaining clarity over LIV’s plans for the 2027 event. Kooyonga wants to know whether LIV intends to proceed with the tournament and, if so, what budget has been allocated and which players are expected to take part.
Furthermore, Kooyonga is seeking reimbursement for the projected costs it will incur while LIV decides whether to proceed. Those costs include expenses associated with preparing the course, as well as revenue lost when the club has to close the course to members.
Although the filing represents a significant legal step, the club appears focused on getting clarity and finalizing the details as soon as possible. To that end, Kooyonga has asked the court to schedule a hearing as early as Wednesday, October 7.
The concern is appropriate as the stakes are high because Adelaide has become LIV’s flagship stop. For comparison, the 2026 edition drew a record of 115,00 fans, up from 102,483 in 2025. Saturday alone drew 38,500 fans — the biggest single-day crowd in LIV’s history.
The financial stakes are significant. The tournament featured a $30 million purse, including $4 million for the winner, while LIV Golf and the South Australian Tourism Commission estimated the event’s total economic impact at A$165 million, with A$97.1 million flowing into the Adelaide economy.
LIV and the South Australian government also have an agreement to stage the event through 2031. However, with LIV’s current financial situation creating uncertainty around its future, questions remain over how those existing commitments and contracts will be carried forward.
As for LIV, it plans to wrap up its bankruptcy soon and continue with LIV 2.0, which is scheduled to have 10 events. Notably, no official calendar for 2027 has been released. More importantly, the players at stake for the new league haven’t been confirmed either. Golf Australia reports that LIV has approximately 35 days from the filing to confirm players for the new funding to be secured.
For now, October 7 will be a key date, as the court is expected to consider Kooyonga’s request for an expedited hearing. Meanwhile, South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has said the state government only makes its payment to LIV after the event is staged. That means, at least for now, no public money is at risk if the 2027 tournament is ultimately cancelled.