The recent LIV Golf event in Adelaide, Australia concluded with resounding success, as the all-Aussie team and individual golfers delivered an impressive show. What truly made the event a hit were the high television ratings and a record attendance of almost 100,000 patrons over three days.
Greg Norman, CEO of LIV, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the event in an interview with Golf Digest Australia. While he stopped short of claiming vindication, Norman did not hold back in addressing the sceptics. He mentioned feeling sorry for those who did not understand the vision of LIV Golf, but now want to be a part of it.
Drawing comparisons to the WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour, LIV’s Adelaide event saw a lesser number of fans in attendance and lower television ratings. Nevertheless, the support from the Australian crowd was a source of pride for Norman, as the event took place in his birth nation.
The Adelaide event also witnessed some extraordinary incidents, such as a fan throwing a water bottle and hitting a caddie, as well as fans being given unprecedented access to the golfers, even being able to hug them. These occurrences provided a unique experience for attendees, differing from the norms of PGA Tour events.
Despite facing backlash as a vocal supporter of the Saudi-backed league, Norman remains resolute and believes that the success of the recent event has made it all worthwhile. Following a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund in June 2023, it seemed that LIV Golf might be on its last leg. However, there has been little progress towards a deal, indicating the continued existence of LIV Golf in the foreseeable future.
Kendall Capps, the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through, provides comprehensive coverage of golf. For more updates and coverage on golf, follow @_PlayingThrough across major social media platforms.