LIV Golf to return to Singapore in May, 2024 schedule has 12 events in eight nations

MIAMI – LIV Golf released its 2024 regular-season schedule on Nov 22, with an event in Singapore in May, while merger talks continue between LIV’s Saudi backers and the US PGA Tour over a framework agreement.

The campaign runs from February to August, with 12 events in eight nations and is to be followed by LIV’s individual and team championship tournaments, details of which were not announced.

“We’re thrilled to announce an exciting slate of events that reflects our commitment to bringing world-class players and premier competition to new and repeat markets every year,” LIV commissioner Greg Norman said.

Some of LIV’s events are opposite PGA Tour signature events, a signal that golf’s civil war could heat up next season if no merger deal is finalised.

The fracture began in 2022 when several top PGA names departed for LIV and were banned from PGA events.

The PGA Tour policy board must approve any deal by the end of 2023 for a merger to be completed under a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund that PGA officials announced in June.

LIV’s 2024 campaign is set to open from Feb 2 to 4 at Mayakoba in Mexico – opposite a PGA signature event at Pebble Beach – with the next event in Las Vegas on Feb 8 to 10, just ahead of the Super Bowl.

LIV will then play in Saudi Arabia on March 1 to 3 and at the Hong Kong Golf Club on March 8 to 10 – opposite a PGA signature stop at Bay Hill – with another event at an unspecified American layout on April 5 to 7 on the week before the US Masters.

Adelaide will play host to LIV from April 26 to 28 with a Singapore stop on May 3 to 5.

There will also be a LIV event in Houston on June 7 to 9 – opposite the Jack Nicklaus-hosted PGA signature event The Memorial – on the week before the US Open at Pinehurst.

LIV talent will tee off in Nashville on June 21 to 23 opposite a PGA signature event, the Travelers Championship.

A Spanish tournament will be played from July 12 to 14 at Valderrama ahead of the British Open at Royal Troon with a LIV event at the JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire, England, on July 26 to 28.

The regular-season finale, another United States event, will be contested at Greenbrier in West Virginia on Aug 16 to 18 – opposite the first weekend of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup play-offs.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson has been telling people that Jon Rahm signing with the LIV circuit is a “done deal”, according to the Fire Pit Collective’s Alan Shipnuck.

Shipnuck’s tweet on Nov 22 followed rumours that the two-time Major champion is set to leave the PGA for a US$600 million (S$804 million) offer from LIV.

“In recent days, Phil has been telling folks that Rahm signing with LIV is a done deal. (They share the same agent),” Shipnuck tweeted. “But we all know Mickelson is a relentless salesman/bulls**t artist, so take that for what it’s worth.”

Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, has repeatedly said that LIV’s 54-hole, team-based format does not interest him and that he is more interested in legacy than money.

However, he recently withdrew from the virtual TGL backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy before the league was forced to postpone its debut to 2025 after the facility’s roof collapsed.

Rahm is also good friends with fellow Spaniard and LIV player Sergio Garcia and Mickelson, whose brother, Tim, was his coach at Arizona State University and agent when he first turned pro.

He is not playing in Woods’ Hero World Challenge next week, and he has not addressed rumours that he may bolt for LIV. McIlroy said earlier in November that he would be “surprised” if the world No. 3 jumped ship.

Rahm was also highly critical of the exclusion of LIV players from the Ryder Cup. But Mickelson said in October that he knew more players would be signing with LIV.

“Do I think that? No, I know that’s going to happen,” he said.

AFP, REUTERS