NewsBite

Four events on 2024 LIV schedule yet to have a venue

Many of the questions about LIV’s future in 2024 have been answered, with league boss Greg Norman spruiking the tour’s future.

The 2024 LIV schedule has been released and Greg Norman is bullish about the league’s future. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images/AFP
The 2024 LIV schedule has been released and Greg Norman is bullish about the league’s future. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images/AFP

Greg Norman says it’s “full steam ahead” for LIV despite the release of an incomplete 2024 schedule with four events, including the team championship, yet to lock in a venue.

Amid uncertainty over the Saudi-backed league’s future pending ongoing discussions around the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV locked in 12 regular season events.

It comes after a subtle sledge from LIV star Brooks Koepka last week about the delay and without host sites for the March tournament in Saudi Arabia and the April tournament in the US.

But Norman, whose own position within LIV was questioned after the deal with the PGA Tour was announced in June, was bullish about the league as it enters a third season.

“LIV Golf is the truly global golf league that the sport and its fans deserve,” Norman said in a statement.

“We’re thrilled to announce an exciting slate of events that reflects our commitment to bringing world-class players and premier competition to new and repeat markets every year.

“Launching a new league is a massive undertaking, and we’re full steam ahead building off our incredibly successful first full season in 2023.

“Our goal has always been to create a worldwide league that inspires progress and attracts new fans to the sport that we love. LIV Golf is stronger than ever, and next season will accomplish that goal and more.”

LIV won’t go to clubs owned by former US president Donald Trump. His courses in Sterling, Virginia; Bedminster, New Jersey; and Miami hosted five LIV Golf events in the circuit’s first two seasons, including the team and individual championships in 2022 and 2023.

Instead, events will feature in eight different countries, including Adelaide in April.

Australian LIV star Cameron Smith, who is staying in Australia until the end of January before rejoining the circuit in 2024, said the bitterness and rivalry between the breakaway circuit and PGA Tour players had dissipated.

“I think the players in general are very all together,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any hard feelings there. I think there’s a few people in the media that are obviously trying to protect their product and do the right thing by them, but generally there’s no hard feelings and we get four chances to catch up with each other.

Cam Smith says there’s little bitterness between the tours these days from a player’s perspective. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
Cam Smith says there’s little bitterness between the tours these days from a player’s perspective. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

“I know it’s been a while since I’ve seen Scottie (Adam Scott). I saw him this morning, so there’s a few friends out there that I miss for sure, but we still get a lot of chances to play together.”

Australian veteran Scott said PGA Tour management had a “lot of work to do” to make the deal with the PIF, which has pledged to invest billions on golf, happen.

“It’s really hard to know if the deal’s going to go through or not. As everyone knows, there’s four or five other parties interested in investing in the PGA Tour like PIF,” he said.
“So management have a lot of work to do to get some final deals on the table so the board can have a look at it and see if there’s a deal that is good for everyone.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/golf/four-events-on-the-2024-liv-schedule-are-yet-to-have-a-venue/news-story/b3e2b7cb59c98203c7ab8402401462c0