LIV Golf’s latest event in Australia was packed with features the newly-formed league has been promising since its inception – and finally, it seems, they have served the right set of fans.
Often starved of top-level sporting occasions, the Aussie golf fans made the most of having some of the best golfers on their doorstep, and all accompanied by a party atmosphere.
Chase Koepka raised the roof with a hole-in-one at the so-called Watering Hole, LIV’s take on TPC Scottsdale’s popular 16th during the Phoenix Open, and stars including local favourite Cameron Smith headed up to the DJ set to entertain his audience.
Greg Norman has always wanted it to be “golf, but louder” – and maybe now he’s cracked the code.
Two of our writers have their say…
‘There is a market for party holes’
This is where the PGA Tour falls down for me, writes Alex Perry. Even the DP World Tour has shown over the years that new formats work and provide entertainment for spectators.
The PGA Tour has proven, with the Stadium Hole at TPC Scottsdale, that there is a desire to create an atmosphere that’s more football-like – or for more general sports fans.
There is an idea golf fans should just be polite, clap every shot, and maintain respect for the players. Of course that should be the case, but why can’t we have fun? There is clearly a desire for tournaments that are more raucous. The LIV players – and their fans – are having fun.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Speith have made it clear they won’t move to LIV – and rightly so – but surely they are watching the scenes from Adelaide and thinking that it looks fun and they would like something like that on the PGA Tour that isn’t just one hole at one tournament each year.
There is a market for this type of event that creates this type of atmosphere, and the PGA Tour could target sports-mad parts of the country, from New York to Philadelphia to Chicago. It would offer something a bit different. I know I’d watch.
‘Hungry Australian golf fans were finally fed’
For the purpose that LIV Golf is trying to achieve, the LIV Golf Adelaide event looked brilliant, writes Matt Chivers.
There were so many people there and, for ages, we’ve listened to criticism of the PGA Tour for not holding events in Australia and this event proved that Australian golf fans have been starved.
The crowds were incredible and you can’t get away from how fun and vibrant the event looked on screen. This event is LIV – it was raucous and the fans clearly enjoyed themselves.
It fed the appetite of Australian golf fans and I’d love for more LIV events to head down under.
It would be my number one golf destination in the world because it has an endless list of outstanding championship golf courses.
LIV Golf Adelaide was the embodiment of what the league wants to achieve – last weekend’s event was LIV in a nutshell.
The Slam podcast: Take note, PGA Tour – LIV Golf have finally got it right!
Listen to Alex and Matt discuss this in more detail (and much more) on the latest episode of The Slam.
You can listen to this episode of The Slam in the player below or use the button to be taken directly to your chosen platform, or you can find it wherever you normally get your podcasts.
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