When strangers are doing shoeys at the golf, it’s time to rein it in

What is the fascination with shoeys? Like, when did it become trendy to rip off a pungent Dunlop Volley, throw it across a golf tee box and holler for complete strangers to pour alcohol into some footwear, and then drink it?

Golf, but louder is LIV’s catchcry. This was more a case of Golf, but loutier.

Is it golf? Does it really matter?

For almost two years, it’s all been fun and games in Adelaide for Greg Norman’s breakaway circuit, which has enjoyed success in Australia like nowhere else in the world (more than 94,000 fans attended three days of this year’s event).

Fun and games until someone gets hit in the back of the head.

A water bottle launched from the stands drilled Lucas Herbert’s charismatic caddie, Nick Pugh, moments after the final putt rolled into the cup on LIV’s party central on Saturday. Just like Chase Koepka being showered in beer and plastic cups after last year’s hole-in-one, this vision went around the world.

A fan has a shoey at the watering hole during LIV Golf Adelaide.Credit: Getty

Sometimes, you reap what you sow.

Golf, by its very nature, can be tedious. Boring to many. A sanctuary for others.

LIV also wants it to be a party. But it’s closing time, and the Saturday scenes have left it with some thinking to do before next year.

As play started during the second round, the first shot of the day on LIV’s slick in-house broadcast coverage was Kieran Vincent. All respect to Vincent, but how many Australian viewers at home know anything about him or are wanting to watch him? Mark Waugh once got sledged by the Poms for not even being the best cricketer in his family. Vincent ain’t the best golfer in his.

Nick Pugh, Lucas Herbert’s caddie, was hit by a bottle on The Grange’s Golf Club’s 12th hole.

During his television time, he was nine shots behind the overnight leader. They showed him because he was the first player on the party hole.

There’s a desperation to lean into everything about the stadium hole to show the rest of the world what LIV can be. All 54 players have their shots into the short par-three shown on the coverage. Most are never seen again for the rest of the round. Stars are incessantly asked about their walk-on songs and the Australians are bombarded with questions about shoeys.

Just as the PGA Tour learnt with its out-of-control party hole at the Phoenix Open (think fat, drunk and shirtless guys rolling down muddy hills), there’s a fine line to straddle between a good time and good riddance.

If a punter threw an object from the outer of Allianz Stadium, Suncorp Stadium or the MCG and it hit an athlete or referee, they would be frogmarched out of the joint and not allowed back.

LIV? Play on, sort of.

On Sunday, South Australian Police reported no complaints about the water bottle throw. But LIV executives were privately frustrated with the objects being thrown, to the point where water bottles were being handed out without lids so, if hurled, they wouldn’t have the same velocity.

Yet to say the caddie whack should brand the whole experience a failure is wrong. LIV Adelaide was named the world’s best golf event last year, and this year it brought compelling final day drama with its first ever teams play-off.

People are attending golf in Australia in droves for LIV, which is fantastic given the PGA Tour’s top brass would struggle to find it on a map (save for when the Presidents Cup comes Down Under every eight years or so). LIV should be applauded for that.

Cameron Smith during the play-off.Credit: Getty

People have a great time. On the course, the electricity is evident. Cameron Smith is feted like a rock star every step of his round. Among the masses are scores of kids, and that’s only a positive.

LIV has signed a deal with Golf Australia to help fund its junior development program, the first of its kind in the world. Politically, it has raised eyebrows. But Smith and his franchise have the financial clout to help a new generation.

It’s a slow burn, but the team thing is inching towards relevance. Judging by the increase in Smith’s Ripper GC merchandise, there might be a hope of it catching on, at least in Australia. The captivating play-off in which Smith and Marc Leishman led Ripper to a win over South Africa’s Stingers GC on the second extra hole helps.

Additionally, one of LIV’s teams, the English-based Majesticks, has started a program which has golf in the curriculum of 400 schools. That’s a potential legacy, an important one.

“I think there’s only a few teams that are cash flow positive – and they’re the teams that are winning week-in, week-out,” Majesticks co-captain Ian Poulter said. “Apart from that, we need to bring more sponsors on board. It’s not cheap to run a franchise.

“[But] what LIV Adelaide did from a global perspective is show other venues what’s possible.”

But honestly, how many people who walked through the gates in Adelaide over the weekend could name the individual winner of LIV Adelaide last year? The runner-up? Or even the team competition, of which Norman is banking so much of LIV’s future on?

Go on, have a think. No Googling.

Its history is short, and it will take time, but can it create a meaningful on-course legacy?

On Sunday, accomplished 41-year-old American Brendan Steele (-18) won his first individual title by one stroke from South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen (-17). Six years ago, Steele reached a high of 35 in the world. He was cast in the shadow by the drama of the teams event, which LIV will be thankful for.

They just need to find the right mix between party and purity of competition.

When the party hole had shut down one day, those not interested in DJ Fisher’s post-round rave circled the putting green as players tried to iron out more kinks after 18 holes. A group challenged Bryson DeChambeau to a putting competition for his socks. DeChambeau lost, and left with just his shoes.

Care to drink out of them, Bryson?

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