South Australia's premier ties LIV Adelaide's return to Smith and DeChambeau

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas says the state will not host LIV Golf Adelaide in 2027 unless the league keeps stars like Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau. He said it on SEN SA radio's breakfast show this week, and Golf Monthly, Australian Golf Digest and Golfmagic all reported his comments on Tuesday, October 27.

LIV Golf Adelaide is scheduled to return to Kooyonga from March 18 to 21, 2027, according to Australian Golf Digest. Malinauskas said LIV officials have been in Adelaide the last few days and keep telling the state that they are planning to be there in March.

"It's tricky. LIV Golf are officially telling us that they are all systems go to be back here," he told SEN, as quoted by Golf Monthly. "We are monitoring it pretty closely. What's happening with the players is going to be the most instructive outcome here."

He named the two players the state cares about most. "It's very important to us they keep the likes of Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau in that playing roster; that underpins the success of the event," he said. "We're not going to go through with LIV unless they put on the standard of event they have put on in the past, which has been truly exceptional. We're going to know for sure in the next two to three weeks."

The date he is watching

Malinauskas pointed to early November. "There's a critical date on the 2nd of November, I think it is, for their financial restructuring, and then we'll see," he said. He also noted the $300 million that has been put behind LIV's next version and said the money is there. His concern is the roster.

Smith has not said publicly whether he will stay. Golfmagic reports that court documents show he has asked for a release from his LIV contract. Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell are among the players who have already said they are leaving.

The premier also gave the state a way out. If LIV doesn't return, he said, South Australia will put more focus on the Australian Open, which is coming to the new North Adelaide course in the next few years. He called this February's LIV event at Grange the biggest attended golf event in Australian history.

What to watch

Adelaide has been one of LIV's most popular stops, so losing it would be a real blow to the relaunch. Watch for Smith's and DeChambeau's decisions and for news out of LIV's restructuring around November 2. If you plan to attend at Kooyonga in March, don't book anything until the state confirms.