Tag: LIV Golf Adelaide

‘How can we get involved?’: Greg Norman hints at growing interest for women’s LIV Golf League

“I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players … They love what our product is showcasing.”

On the eve of the first women’s major championship of the year in Texas, Greg Norman hinted at a growing interest in a women’s LIV Golf League while speaking ahead of the upstart circuit’s next event in Australia.

The CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf was asked about the future of LIV both from a men’s and women’s perspective and admitted there have been internal discussions “on a regular basis” about the latter.

“I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET Tour players, Ladies European Tour. They love what our product is showcasing,” claimed Norman during a press conference at Grange Golf Club ahead of LIV Golf Adelaide. “They ask all the time, ‘How can we get involved? We’d love to see a LIV ladies series.’”

It’s important to note that while LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan has previously said she would meet with LIV Golf officials, there has been no public indication that meeting has taken place.

“We can only drink out of a fire hydrant so much, so we have a lot of opportunities and initiatives coming across our plate,” Norman explained. “Our focus is to make sure this year we produce what we’re producing (with the LIV Golf League) from day one, 2023, and then going forward we’re looking what are the best opportunities to build on to what we have today.”

Believe him or not, Norman has been adamant that his goal for LIV was to coexist within the golf ecosystem. For the sake of their tour, LPGA players past and present can only hope Norman is good on his word.

“I think if Norman does do this, it’s going to totally ruin the LPGA, because I think most of the girls would go, just because the money is a game-changer,” said 31-time LPGA winner Juli Inkster last August.

“If it’s the money that they have on the LIV, you know they’re going to crush the LPGA,” said 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam. “Hopefully they have the intention of growing the game and working together with the LPGA.”

Seven-time major winner Karrie Webb said she’d hold a grudge against players who doesn’t agree with her fellow Aussie Norman.

“If the LPGA were to suffer because a group of players went and started playing on a tour similar to (LIV) and the LPGA would suffer, I would hold that against them,” Webb said. “I know that (Greg Norman has) had this vendetta against the PGA Tour as long as I’ve known him, So I don’t think there would be any changing him. I would just ask him that in his ambition to succeed, that he doesn’t ruin women’s golf in the process.”

“I hope we survive it,” added former world No. 1 Stacy Lewis. “Should we talk to them? Absolutely. Ultimately, I think we have to find a way to co-exist.”

LIV Golf has long been criticized as a way for Saudi Arabia to sportswash its controversial human rights record. The Kingdom has been accused of politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

How can a women’s organization reconcile doing business with a regime that has such a horrendous record of human rights abuses, especially toward women?

“I think that’s maybe one of the reasons we should partner,” said Sorenstam, “to be able to make a difference.”

Contributing: Golfweek senior writer Beth Ann Nichols.

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LIV Golf’s Greg Norman talks about his ‘legacy,’ sidesteps sportswashing, calls for resolution with PGA Tour and DP World Tour

“My legacy of what I’m doing with LIV will be my legacy because it’s the right thing to do,” said Norman.

LIV Golf officials like to refer to 2022 as its beta season and 2023 as its true first season.

However you want to differentiate between the two years so far, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman hasn’t been nearly as vocal this year compared to last. That changed on Thursday when the two-time major champion was joined by Cam Smith and South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas for a press conference ahead of LIV Golf Adelaide, the upstart circuit’s first event in Australia.

Norman doubled down on previous comments and claims that the rebranded LIV Golf League will be around for the long haul and that, despite ongoing legal struggles with both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, that the entity financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund wants to “coexist within the golf ecosystem.”

“I do hope there gets to a position where there is resolution to this, because the game of golf doesn’t need to suffer,” said Norman on Thursday at the Grange Golf Club, the site of his first professional win. “These guys don’t need to suffer.”

“PGA Tour has got a great tour. We’re happy for them. I’m happy for them. I grew up on the PGA Tour. So did Cam. We grew up playing on the European Tour,” said Norman. “I hope they exist and keep existing, but it’s their choice of what they want to do, and if they want to keep putting up road blocks, we’re not going to go anywhere. We’ve got a great product. We’ve got investment dollars there today, investment dollars into the future that will continue to be there because of guys like this.”

To the point of those investment dollars, LIV Golf is financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and has long been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to sportswash its controversial human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

Asked about sportswashing on Wednesday, Bryson DeChambeau said he thought that topic was “kicked that to the curb” after answering questions on the subject last year. When asked why he’s never had a conversation with anyone from the PIF about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Norman rolled out the company line: Golf is a force for good.

“Because I’m the chairman and CEO of LIV Golf Investments, and that’s where I focus. I focus on golf. I stay focused on golf. My job is to build out LIV and the product we have on a global front,” said a perturbed Norman. “I’ve been involved with golf, like I said, as a player, as well as golf course design.

“I’ve built some golf courses in third-world countries. I’ve built golf courses in Communist countries. Golf is a force for good,” he continued. “It goes everywhere with the right platform because it delivers the right message, from education to hospitality to employment to tourism. Everywhere you go, golf is a force for good.”

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Malinauskas defended Australia’s decision to host LIV based on the potential economic impact the event may have on the region and touted how Australia and Saudi Arabia share a $3 billion trading partnership.

“But LIV is not a representative of Saudi Arabia. LIV is a golf tournament. LIV is a golf tour, and it’s shaking things up, and I think that’s a good thing,” said Malinauskas, who insinuated sportswashing is only mentioned as a last line of defense to LIV’s market disruption.

“LIV Golf is here exclusively in its capacity putting on a high-quality and elite golf tournament.”

The phrase “elite golf tournament” could be challenged, especially after Smith, who was seated next to Malinauskas, said at the Masters that LIV’s fields “aren’t as strong” as those on the PGA Tour. After acquiring some of professional golf’s biggest, boldest characters, the offseason additions for this season left something to be desired as just two top-50 players (at the time) made the move in Thomas Pieters (No. 35) and Mito Pereira (No. 50).

Norman boasted that a number of players are still waiting to join LIV, but as for those who didn’t make the 2023 cut over the likes of Pieters, Pereira, Sebastian Munoz and Brendan Steele, those players may add depth to LIV’s 48-player fields, but wouldn’t move the needle.

“There is an incredible amount of interest. We’re full,” said Norman. “Our goal is to build those franchise values out.”

Norman and those at LIV truly believe in its franchise model and that its 12 teams can be profitable, so long as the league is given time to grow and establish its place in golf.

“My legacy of what I’m doing with LIV will be my legacy,” added Norman, “because it’s the right thing to do.”

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The Watering Hole: Anticipation builds for LIV Golf party hole at event in Australia

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

The PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open is known for its par-3 16th stadium hole, “The Coliseum.” The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has featured first tee walk-up music for its two-man teams in the past (though this year will be a little different with a DJ instead).

When the LIV Golf League returns to action Friday at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia, it will be borrowing both ideas from their competitors across the professional golf aisle.

As the upstart circuit likes to say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

LIV Golf’s party hole – named the Watering Hole – will feature a handful of bars around the stadium build-out at the Grange’s par-3 12th hole, as well as a live DJ. Players will also have walk-out songs when they step on the tee.

“I’m excited to see the hole. Listen, I’m always loved playing Phoenix. I always thought having like an amphitheater type crowd around a hole has always been pretty special, and I guess I’ve had some success at Phoenix, too. Who knows, maybe this week,” said Brooks Koepka, who ironically chose Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” for his song, an apt description of his runner-up week at the Masters earlier this month.

“I just love it. I love when the fans get a little rowdy. They’re screaming, they’re booing you when you hit a bad shot and cheering you on when you hit a good one. It’s going to make that hole exciting,” Koepka continued. “I think it should bring a different atmosphere, which will be cool, and like (Dustin Johnson) said, it’ll be most fans we’ve had so far, so it’s exciting.”

LIV officials have capped tickets in the past, but that won’t be the case this week. The upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expecting 60,000 fans on site in Adelaide. The league loves to tout its “Golf But Louder” slogan, and its first event in Australia will be the prime example of how LIV wants its tournaments to look.

“I think, yeah, the atmosphere is going to be great,” added Johnson, who hasn’t picked a song just yet. “I mean, with the amount of fans that will be out every day, I think it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere, and as golfers we love playing in front of as many people as come out and watch. The more people, the better.”

LIV Golf is holding just its fourth event of the new season and 12th overall since shaking up the pro golf scene last summer. After dominating headlines for most of 2022, the momentum has stalled in 2023 due to a quiet offseason and mediocre list of new signings, not to mention the pair of recent legal blows in both the United Kingdom and United States.

That said, three LIV players finished in the top six at the Masters, and if the Phoenix Open is any indication, the Watering Hole and atmosphere in Adelaide should be fun for the Aussie fans and those who watch.

This week, LIV has a chance to gain some, not all, of that momentum back.

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Photos: 2023 LIV Golf Adelaide at Grange Golf Club

Check out some of the best photos from LIV Golf Adelaide.

LIV Golf is in the land Down Under.

For its fourth event of the season, the LIV Golf League is at Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia, for LIV Golf Adelaide. It’s a home game for the Australian team, which 2022 Open Championship winner Cameron Smith captains, but it’s also the first event since the Masters, where Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson tied for second.

Grange Golf Club is a par-72 layout measuring 6,946 yards. Charles Howell III, Danny Lee and Koepka won the first three LIV events of the season. Play gets underway Friday.

Adelaide is 13 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone in the United States.

This is the first of two straight weeks LIV will play in the Southern Hemisphere, with competition moving to Singapore next week.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from LIV Golf Adelaide.

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Brooks Koepka dishes on Sunday stumble at Masters and LIV Golf’s warm reception at Augusta National

“You just kind of take some time and digest it all … It was nice to get to the bottom of it,” said Koepka.

Brooks Koepka had a dream start and nightmare finish earlier this month at the Masters, and two weeks later, he’s still dealing with the weekend fallout that saw him finish four shots behind Jon Rahm.

LIV Golf is back in action this week in Adelaide, South Australia, for its fourth event of the season, and the four-time major champion dished on his disappointing performance down the stretch at Augusta National.

“You just kind of take some time and digest it all. Did a good job of that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and just kind of relaxed and tried to think about why it happened, why I played bad on Sunday,” Koepka said to the media Wednesday at the Grange Golf Club. “I’m always pretty honest with myself, and normally it goes on what I was thinking, what I was doing. It was nice to get to the bottom of it.”

Koepka held a two-shot lead entering the final round, but a 3-over 75 Sunday afternoon sealed the deal for his runner-up finish alongside fellow LIV player Phil Mickelson.

“Look, you tell anybody you’re going to finish second in a major, especially where I was six months ago, a year ago, I’m not sure there, so I would have taken that, so it’s tough to really argue with it,” he continued. “Then reality, expectations and all that stuff gets thrown in there. But it was a good solid week, and I can’t really complain. Gave myself a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask for every time you tee it up.”

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The Netflix docuseries “Full Swing” depicted Koepka as a player lost in the woods and unsure of his ability to play against the game’s best. He even admitted during last year’s Masters he wasn’t sure whether he could hang with the likes of former world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler “week in and week out.” But the 32-year-old has slowly but surely found his competitive edge once again on the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and financially supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Koepka is the league’s only two-time winner over its 11 events after his victory at LIV Golf Orlando a week before the close call at Augusta.

The Masters wasn’t just a time for Koepka to show the sports world that his alpha male, kick-your-ass-at-all-costs mentality was still alive and well (ironically enough for just 54 holes this time around). His fellow LIV Golf captains Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau saw it as a time to show the divide between LIV and the PGA Tour may not be as wide as some fans may think.

“I think it was the best thing for the fans to see what happened at the Masters,” said Koepka. “We kind of experience it all behind closed doors, and I know when I’m home, I can’t speak for Bryson, but when me and DJ are home, we see (Rory McIlroy) there at (Grove XXIII) … (Keegan Bradley), Matt Fitzpatrick. Patrick Cantlay lives on the same street; (Rickie Fowler) does, as well. I could run into 15 Tour guys if I wanted to in a day, and nobody has really had any negative feedback, any negative thing to say, and that would be the time to say it.

“But I think it was good just for the fans to see that we still communicate, we still play together, we still practice together, do everything the exact same. We’re still the same people.”

“Obviously where we live, I think half the golf world lives in South Florida. I see all the guys all the time,” added Johnson, captain of last year’s champion 4 Aces. “It was nice to see at Augusta, see a few of the guys that you don’t see in Jupiter or out here on LIV, a couple buddies I got to see and hang out with.”

Johnson claimed to have heard a lot of “Go Aces” yells from the gallery and chalked up the warm reception to the respect patrons have for Augusta National and the Masters.

“It’s more about the golf than what Tour you play on,” DJ explained. “I think that’s how it should be all the time.”

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