The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour wants its Australian event – the most successful so far in the mega-money concept – to be moved to an earlier date for the launch of its 2024 season.
Despite doubt over the long-term future of LIV Golf, which boasts Australia’s former British Open champion Cameron Smith among its star players, talks are under way for the Adelaide tournament to be held in early February next year.
This year’s tournament in April was the richest golf event ever held in Australia, but the next edition could take place two months earlier.
More than 70,000 people watched some of the world’s best players including Smith, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson play at the Grange Golf Club, an event remembered for Chase Koepka being showered in beer when he made a hole in one on the tournament’s raucous watering hole.
Speculation was rife earlier this year that Greg Norman’s league would look to add a second Australian event to its schedule next year. A LIV Golf source, who is not authorised to speak publicly about negotiations on programming, said Adelaide was being discussed as its launch event next year.
The potential move to February is likely to have scheduling consequences for the Victoria Open, one of the marquee events on the PGA of Australia tour.
Chase Koepka celebrates his hole in one in LIV Golf’s Australian event.Credit: Getty
The original April timeslot is still a chance of being used for the Adelaide tournament, but a LIV Golf source said it was more likely the event would be held in February.
LIV Golf’s opening event for 2023 was held at Mayakoba in Mexico, but it didn’t have the same buzz as Adelaide. LIV executives also believe there are other benefits to having the Australian trip earlier in the year.
It would mean its best players wouldn’t be forced to make a long-haul flight in the middle of majors season – this year’s tournament was held two weeks after the US Masters – and the course would also present a tougher challenge for players in the drier summer climate.
It’s unlikely LIV’s 48-man travelling band would head to Singapore the following week like they did this year.
Smith, who is leading the individual points standings after wins at London and Bedminster, will return for the Australian summer of golf. He said this week he was unsure if LIV Golf’s agreement with the PGA Tour would materialise before December 31.
The two parties have brokered a deal to start a new commercial entity, with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan to then evaluate the future of LIV Golf, which appears set to continue for at least another season.
“I’ve got no idea [if the deal will eventuate],” Smith said. “It’s above my pay grade.”
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