Golf 2022: Clive Palmer could join forces with Greg Norman to bring LIV Tour event to Australia
A forgotten golf course undergoing major renovations and owned by Clive Palmer could be the landing place for Greg Norman’s LIV Tour and Queensland’s Cam Smith if talks come to fruition.
Clive Palmer and Greg Norman could join forces to bring LIV Golf to Australia after it emerged that officials from the rebel tour were exploring the prospect of playing the event at Hyatt Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Norman has made no secret of his desire to bring his Saudi-backed tour to Australia next year as he looks to get one up on the PGA Tour — officials from LIV Golf were recently in the country conducting as part of a fact-finding mission.
Sources close to Palmer confirmed to News Corp that talks had been held with officials at Hyatt Coolum over its availability. Palmer was unable to be contacted because he is currently overseas.
The venue, once the home of the Australian PGA, is currently undergoing major renovation work after Palmer announced a $100 million investment in the resort last year.
Recent reports suggested that figure had blown out to $120 million. It is understood more than 100 tradespeople have been on site completing the work.
Luring the LIV Golf tour to the resort would be a huge statement given it hasn’t been home to tournament golf for some time. LIV officials recently began reaching out to potential host venues — they were knocked back by Royal Sydney but are believed to be determined to bring a major event to Australia.
Queensland shapes as a logical destination given Cameron Smith is the biggest name on the tour, having been lured across game’s great divide by a signing fee believed to be worth as much as $140 million.
Smith’s defection was a huge blow to the PGA Tour, highlighted by the International team’s convincing defeat in the Presidents Cup over the weekend.
Smith would have been the highest-ranked player in the International team but was frozen out after announcing his switch to the LIV Tour.
The Queenslander has already tasted success as a member of LIV Golf, having won his second event on the Saudi-backed tour.
Palmer and Norman have a longstanding relationship. A decade ago, one of Palmer’s courses on the Gold Coast hosted Norman’s junior golf events.
The pair also spent an evening together in the lead-up to the 2012 PGA at the Hyatt Coolum, making a helicopter trip to the Gold Coast to launch one of Norman‘s junior golf tournaments.
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