Martin Kaymer explains why he's missing LIV Golf Adelaide

Former European Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer has become the latest LIV Golf captain to withdraw from their second event of the 2026 season in Adelaide. 

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, 55, was the first to announce he's skipping the first two events of the season as he attends a private family health matter back home with wife Amy. 

Lee Westwood's wrist injury forced the Englishman to skip the stops in Riyadh in Australia too. 

Now, Kaymer has revealed that he has been sidelined with an elbow injury. In a statement posted on X, the German said he will be replaced by LIV Golf reserve John Catlin. 

"I won't be playing in Adelaide this week due to a minor injury on my left elbow," he wrote in a statement posted on social media. 

"Sitting out is never an easy call, especially for an event as special as LIV Golf Adelaide.

"The positive is that recovery is going very well and I'm feeling strong. 

"This is just a short pause with the focus firmly on the long season ahead, and I look forward to returning to competition in Hong Kong.

"I'll be cheering for the guys this week and back in Cleeks colours soon. I appreciate all the support."

Kaymer's other teammates are Englishman Richard Bland, Poland's Adrian Meronk and Frenchman Victor Perez, who joined LIV Golf over the winter to replace the relegated Frederik Kjettrup. 

The aforementioned Mickelson had Ollie Schniederjans fill in for him last week but the week did not go well for the HyFlyers, with the team finishing bottom of the team standings. 

He has named "local legend" and home favourite Wade Orsmby to take his place this week. 

Ormsby told reporters in a news conference on Tuesday: "I have been a reserve quite a bit, you do a lot of sitting around. 

"And at the start of doing this role, you kind of look around at who is in the physio room and who is injured and whatever else, but that just makes you go crackers.

"So, you just try to be ready and do your work and let it come to you, because you don’t want anyone to go down injured or whatever else.

"But you take the opportunities when you can get them and just try and do your best when you’re called upon from whichever team asks you."

LIV Golf Adelaide is the second event of the 2026 season. 

Australia's Elvis Smylie is currently top of the individual standings after claiming a one-shot victory over Jon Rahm on his debut. 

It represented the first time a LIV player won on their first start since Henrik Stenson won in Bedminster four years ago. 

Smylie's victory saw him make a big leap in the Official World Golf Ranking.