Tyrrell Hatton leads LIV trio into British Masters after shock Team Championship cancellation

LIV golfers Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin and Adrian Meronk have committed to the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo after LIV Golf cancelled its Team Championship in Michigan.

The trio will now take advantage of the unexpected free week by returning to the DP World Tour for the tournament at The Belfry from 27-30 August.

The development comes just a day after Telegraph Sport’s James Corrigan reported that LIV Golf’s Team Championship, which was scheduled to take place in Michigan during the same week as the British Masters, had been cancelled.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is understood to have informed players of the decision earlier this week.

The cancellation means next week’s LIV Golf Indianapolis will now mark the league's final tournament of the season, leaving a number of players with an unexpected week away from competitive action at the end of the month. 

Hatton, McKibbin, Meronk to play British Masters 

Hatton, McKibbin and Meronk have now moved quickly to fill that gap, confirming their participation in the $3.5m British Masters at the famous Ryder Cup venue.

European Ryder Cup hero Hatton is the biggest name of the three, while Northern Ireland's McKibbin and Poland's Meronk will also add considerable quality to the field at The Belfry.

The development comes during an extraordinary week for LIV Golf, with the league’s future beyond 2026 continuing to generate significant uncertainty.

Telegraph Sport has also reported that Jon Rahm’s future on LIV has been thrown into serious doubt, with sources within the league reportedly now “almost resigned” to the Spaniard’s exit.

Rahm’s potential exit could have major implications for LIV’s proposed new financial model too. 

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) is no longer funding the league beyond this season, bringing an end to the financial backing that helped LIV attract some of the biggest names in professional golf.

The PIF reportedly invested more than $5 billion into the project since its launch, while LIV has accumulated losses understood to be well in excess of $1 billion.

LIV is nevertheless attempting to secure a future beyond 2026. 

O’Neil revealed last week that a “term sheet” had been signed with a lead investor that would make LIV Golf players the majority equity holders in the league. 

That investor is widely believed to be BC Partners.

O’Neil said at LIV Golf New York that he hoped a final agreement could be secured before September.

However, the optimism surrounding that announcement has since been tempered by reports concerning the league's biggest stars.

Both Bloomberg and the Financial Times have reported on concerns surrounding LIV’s star power, with assurances over the continued participation of players including Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau reportedly an important consideration for the proposed investment.

Rahm’s contractual situation could make his position even more significant, with Monday Q Info reporting that the Spaniard is still owed around $150 million from his LIV contract.

Should Rahm leave, LIV would not only lose one of its biggest stars but could also face further questions over whether its proposed new financial model can work without the players who helped make the league such a major attraction.

Garcia intends to take up membership of DP World Tour in 2027

Elsewhere, GolfMagic has learned this week that Sergio Garcia has committed to three further DP World Tour events in Ireland, Switzerland and Spain as he intends to regain his membership of the DP World Tour for 2027.

What that exactly means for Garcia's wider 2027 playing schedule remains to be seen. 

New DP World Tour rules could influence LIV player decisions

There are said to be growing concerns over the future of the special agreements that have allowed LIV players to compete on the DP World Tour without facing the usual fines and suspensions.

The Athletic’s Gabby Herzig reported this week that LIV players have reportedly been warned that those current arrangements are unlikely to continue beyond this season. 

If they do disappear, players wanting to compete on both circuits in 2027 and beyond could face a significant headache — and potentially sizeable financial penalties.