LIV Golf signs its first partnership to fund Australia's junior golf program - Reports
LIV Golf is expected to sign a deal to fund Australia's junior golf program according to recent reports.
The 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide is being held in Australia for the second time with over 80,000 fans in attendance at the event, driving golf in the country. LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is reportedly seeking to show the league's commitment to the country by funding the junior golf program.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, LIV Golf and Cameron Smith's all-Australian team Ripper GC will make a commitment to fund MyGolf - the country's junior development program run by Golf Australia.
Golf Australia had a dedicated area for children to watch the sport at the 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide. The junior program saw an increase in interest and participation from kids after the LIV Golf event was held in the country in 2023.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said during a press conference at the 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide:
"I knew the value of Australia, what Australia can represent to the game of golf and what Australia lacked. To be able to bring the quality of Jon Rahm plus 53 guys down here for the Australians to experience was meaningful for me because I came down here, it was my mission every year as a player to bring back my skills to show Australia, to grow Australian golf the best way I possibly could, but that was with 14 clubs in the bag and what I did on the golf course."
"To be able to do it here with the impact that we've had, not only on the golf course with the players, commercially, as well, economically - it's just incredible," he added.
LIV Golf capturing the international golf market
LIV Golf has focused on capturing the international golf market since its inception in 2022. The league is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in a bid to boost the country's economy.
Greg Norman was announced as the CEO and LIV Golf invested $300 million in the Asian Tour to capture the Asian golf market. The investment went into creating the International Series.
The International Series launched in 2022 to create an Asian Tour-sanctioned gateway to LIV Golf. The series consists of 10 events to draw more players to the Saudi-backed league with a minimum purse of $2 million for the ten events.
Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series, told LIV Golf:
"For some, it is a very real pathway onto the LIV Golf League. For the amateurs and regional players, it is about gaining elite-level experience, and for our LIV Golf members it is about honing their game with more playing opportunities even as they fulfill their quest to play the Majors."
Over $30 million has been given out in 17 events across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
In 2023, LIV Golf held 14 events spread across the United States, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. The league's first official season drew interest from several fans around the globe.
LIV Golf expanded the league to Hong Kong for 2024 while also keeping their 2023 venues for the 2024 season.