The start of the second LIV Golf season is finally upon us and most likely, the start of another turbulent year in the professional game.
Dustin Johnson romped to the individual title in 2022, banking $18 million which is the same amount that Rory McIlroy earned for winning the FedEx Cup.
Johnson and 4Aces GC also won the team format across eight events which added $4 million to his healthy stack last year. There will be $25 million up for grabs at each event again this time around.
LIV CEO Greg Norman has added six new faces to his roster to bolster the 48-man fields ahead of the 2023 LIV Golf schedule.
12 teams are back with full uniforms, new captains, and a couple of new team names as the Saudi-financed league continues its attempt to make golf louder.
LIV relied on a free-to-air stream on YouTube and their own website to attract viewers in 2022, but the breakaway tour has teamed up with the CW Network in America to reach the mainstream audience.
We have a rundown of everything you need to know before the first event kicks off at Mayakoba in Mexico, starting with how to watch the action.
How to watch LIV Golf
Many of you will be asking ‘is LIV Golf on TV?’ The answer is yes, but the only mainstream channel showing the coverage is based in America.
LIV announced a multi-year television deal with the CW Network in January, a channel that will cover all 14 events as part of the new circuit’s schedule.
The CW will broadcast the action across the United States and will air on Saturdays and Sundays. Friday golf will be restricted to The CW App.
In terms of where to watch LIV Golf events from other countries, you can tune into the coverage using LIV Golf Plus for free.
You can download LIV Golf Plus on Apple TV, Apple Store, Fire TV, and Google Play.
When does LIV Golf start?
LIV events will be shown from 1pm to 6pm eastern time on Saturdays and Sundays on the CW Network in America, but you will need The CW App on Fridays.
The shotgun start will begin at 1.15pm at El Camaleon Golf Course which is 6.15pm for viewers in the United Kingdom.
Who has joined LIV Golf?
Six new faces made the leap from the PGA and DP World Tours to become LIV Golf players in 2023: Thomas Pieters, Mito Pereira, Sebastian Munoz, Dean Burmester, Brendan Steele, and Danny Lee.
Pieters recently revealed he decided to join LIV last summer, but the opportunity didn’t present itself until Hudson Swafford was ruled out for the season with an injury.
The Belgian made the decision with his family in mind and he asserted not qualifying for the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour wasn’t a contributing factor, despite one angry tweet.
Pieters still hopes to be part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team in September, but we are yet to discover if LIV Golf players will be eligible or indeed wanted at the event.
Pereira, one of the stars of the Netflix show Full Swing, has joined Torque GC with his close friend and fellow Chilean Joaquin Niemann.
Munoz, Steele and Lee bring tournament-winning credentials from the PGA Tour, while Burmester is also a two-time winner on the DP World Tour.
When is the next LIV Golf event?
The first LIV Golf invitational of 2023 will conclude on February 26 in Mexico and you’ll have to wait until March 17 for the second tournament in Tucson.
The Gallery Golf Club in Arizona played host to the WGC-Accenture Match Play in 2007 and 2008, events respectively won by Henrik Stenson and Tiger Woods.
These two venues, along with The Old White at the Greenbrier, Valderrama and Trump National Doral are the most significant host acquisitions from LIV Golf this year as they have all previously held events on the PGA and DP World Tours.
Are you looking forward to watching the LIV Golf League in 2023? Tweet me and let me know!
