Golf fans will have to fork out more for tickets to the LIV Golf series’ debut in Singapore in 2023, but the steeper prices will not be a stumbling block as they are looking forward to watching live, world-class action.
The Saudi-backed tour announced on Wednesday that it will stage a tournament at the Sentosa Golf Club from April 28 to 30. Three other destinations were also revealed: the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico (Feb 24-26), Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia (April 21-23) and Real Club Valderrama in Andalucia, Spain (June 30-July 2).
Tickets for the Singapore tournament are already on sale on LIV Golf’s website and are priced between $51.36 and $56.71 for a single-day pass, while a three-day pass costs $133.75. Entry is free for children aged 12 and under.
As a comparison, the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open – the last professional men’s golf event open to the public – sold tickets at between $20 to $30 (single-day pass) and $60 (for four days).
But the higher ticket price is not an issue for long-time golf fan Joseph Phua, who has been following the news about LIV Golf. The controversial breakaway series has made headlines for luring stars away from the PGA and DP World Tours and critics have accused LIV Golf and its backers, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, of “sportswashing”.
But Phua said that it has only added to the intrigue.
The 62-year-old businessman said: “It is a very interesting series... And with people like Greg Norman and (Phil) Mickelson involved, I think it’s great that it is coming here.
“I think the pricing of the tickets is fine given the calibre of players we will get to see. After all, it is not often you get to see such golfers here and this is only a yearly affair. I do think people will pay to watch their favourite golfers.“
After a debut 2022 season featuring eight events boasting a total prize purse of US$255 million (S$346 million), the 2023 series will consist of 14 events and golfers will play for US$405 million – US$150 million more than 2022.
With over US$25 million expected to be on offer at each of the regular season events, LIV Golf Singapore will be the richest golf tournament held here, topping the US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open from 2010 to 2012.
Fans will be able to catch some of the world’s best players at Sentosa’s Serapong course, including former Singapore Open champions Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia. British Open champion Cameron Smith and Major winners Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Mickelson are also expected to be in town.
Highlights at the event will include live music, an interactive fan village, a performance zone and other fringe activities.
Local fan Sean Aw, who purchased a single-day pass on Thursday, is champing at the bit to watch Smith and Johnson in action.
The 30-year-old, who works in the finance industry, said: “It’s an experience that is rare... in Singapore because of the kind of players that will be here and the way LIV Golf is organised.
It’s more than just golf because you get a lot more extra stuff... like music and other fringe events.”
LIV Golf chief executive and commissioner Norman, described the Sentosa Golf Club as a “perfect setting”, saying in a press statement that the tour is excited to “create a new legacy for the game of golf in Singapore”.
The DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, returns to the Republic for the first time in nine years. It will stage the Singapore Classic from Feb 9-12 at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club. This event will have a US$2 million prize purse.
Sentosa will then stage the US$1.8 million HSBC Women’s World Championship - which typically attracts the sport’s top female pros - from March 2-5.
Aw said he hopes the return of top-class golf action will mean more local interest in the sport.
He said: “Having events like these mean that more people will pay attention to the sport and especially so for younger audience given the kind of publicity that it has created.”
LIV GOLF Ticket details:
Friday: $51.36
Saturday: $56.71
Sunday: $56.71
Three-day pass: $133.75
Tickets can be bought here: https://str.sg/livgolf
