LIV Golf Announces 2023 Schedule, $405 Million Prize Money and Team Expansion
LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded breakaway golf circuit, has announced its 2023 schedule, which includes a new event at Orange County National in Orlando, Florida (March 31-April 2).[0] The tournament is set to take place the week prior to the Masters, the opening major championship of the year.[1] It will also be holding a new event at Trump National Washington D.C. in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Last year's team championship was held at Trump National Doral, but this year’s event at the former president’s club near Miami will be a normal, regular-season tournament.[2]
The season finale team championship will be hosted at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the beginning of November. At the 14 tournaments of the upcoming season, LIV's golfers will be vying for a total prize of $405 million, which is $150 million more than what they had won across 8 tournaments in 2022.[3] Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and Sergio Garcia, who all left the PGA Tour for the lucrative deals on offer from LIV, are back on the roster and further big names need to be recruited now that the team contest has been widened for its second season.[4]
Greg Norman's role as CEO and commissioner of the LIV Golf League is actually being strengthened, meaning more autonomy in running the second-year circuit.[5] Norman recently hit out at Tiger Woods, branding the 15-time major winner a ‘mouthpiece' for the PGA who ‘doesn't know the facts' about Saudi-backed breakaway competition.[6]
Majed Al-Sorour, current managing director of LIV Golf, will step down from his role but remain on the board of directors, which consists of seven members.[7] Al-Sorour is also CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and will now focus his attention on other interests.[6]
The inaugural LIV event of 2021 will take place from February 24th to 26th at the Mayakoba Resort in Mexico.[4] The $50 million team championship will be played at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah on Nov. 3-5. Australia's The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide will host the Australian leg of the LIV Golf calendar on April 21-23.[8] The Old White Course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia will host an event on August 4-6.[8]
0. “‘A Match Made In Hell’: Former POTUS Donald Trump’s Involvement In 2023 LIV Golf Opens the Door To Assorted Reactions From The Golf World” EssentiallySports, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-a-match-made-in-hell-former-potus-donald-trumps-involvement-in-2023-liv-golf-opens-the-door-to-assorted-reactions-from-the-golf-world/
1. “LIV Golf Releases 2023 Schedule: 6 International Stops, Saudi Arabia Finale” Golf Channel, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.golfchannel.com/news/liv-golf-releases-2023-schedule-6-international-stops-saudi-arabia-finale
2. “LIV Golf makes more changes ahead of second season with 2023 schedule, new role for Greg Norman” Yahoo Sports, 23 Jan. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/liv-golf-makes-more-changes-203724422.html
3. “LIV Golf Deepens Link With Trump Courses With Planned 2023 Schedule” InsideHook, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/sports/liv-golf-trump-courses-2023-schedule
4. “With PGA and LIV events in Chicago area, fans will have plenty to watch in 2023” Daily Herald, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20230124/with-pga-and-liv-events-in-chicago-area-fans-will-have-plenty-to-watch-in-2023
5. “Who is Majed Al-Sorour? LIV Golf Managing Director steps down from position” Sportskeeda, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-who-majed-al-sorour-liv-golf-managing-director-steps-position
6. “Greg Norman ‘given more power' at LIV Golf as £40m team championship moves venue” The Mirror, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/greg-norman-liv-golf-series-29033624
7. “Greg Norman's position in controversial LIV Golf series strengthens despite latest shake-up” Daily Mail, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-11672447/Greg-Normans-position-controversial-LIV-Golf-series-strengthens-despite-latest-shake-up.html
8. “Trump Courses, PGA Tour Hosts Headline LIV Golf 2023 Schedule” Pro Golf Weekly, 25 Jan. 2023, https://progolfweekly.com/trump-courses-pga-tour-hosts-headline-liv-golf-2023-schedule/