22 FEBRUARY 2023, SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: THEY DO SAY THAT ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER. SOMETHING WHICH OTHER SPORTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD OVER GOLF, BUT INCREASINGLY SO SINCE THE CREATION OF THE FEDEX CUP AND RACE TO DUBAI, IS AN OFF SEASON. AN OFF SEASON HELPS TO BUILD ANTICIPATION, AND PROTECT AGAINST APATHY. AS AN ARSENAL FAN I KNOW THAT THE TIME BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST BUILDS MY ANTICIPATION FOR A NEW SEASON, AND AS SOMEONE WHO TAKES A KEEN INTEREST IN FORMULA 1 I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO BEGIN IN BAHRAIN NEXT MONTH, AFTER 3 MONTHS AWAY.
THE SEEMINGLY NEVER ENDING GOLF SCHEDULE IS BAD FOR THE SPORT, NO MATTER WHAT THE ESTABLISHMENT TRY TO TELL YOU. EVEN WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PGA TOUR THAT THEY WOULD BE RETURNING TO A CALENDAR YEAR SCHEDULE IN 2024 (COMPETING FOR THE FEDEX CUP BETWEEN JANUARY AND AUGUST), THE GOLFING CALENDAR DOES NOT END THERE. THEY ARE BUILDING A 3-TOURNAMENT 'INTERNATIONAL SERIES' AND COLLABORATING WITH THE DP WORLD TOUR ON EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN REALITY THE GOLFING CALENDAR OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURS RUNS FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER, WITH SEVERAL BIG NAMES PLAYING IN HAWAII IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, AND CONCLUDING THEIR YEAR AT THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE IN DECEMBER.
THEY DO SAY LESS IS MORE, SO STEP FORWARD LIV GOLF. 12 MONTHS AGO I WROTE AN ARTICLE CALLED 'GIVING THE GAME A SHEIKH UP', WHICH WENT INTO DEPTH ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF GOLF. DESPITE ALL THE CRITICISM FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT-WOVEN MEDIA, AND THE SANCTIONS HANDED OUT BY THE PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR, LIV GOLF IS SET TO LAUNCH ITS SECOND SEASON, AND I FOR ONE CANNOT WAIT. IS THIS VERSION OF LIV GOLF THE FUTURE OF GOLF? PROBABLY NOT. BUT IN JUST 12 MONTHS THIS UPSTART, LED BY GREG NORMAN AND FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND OF SAUDI ARABIA HAS FORCED THE SPORT AT PROFESSIONAL LEVEL TO HAVE A DEEP, LONG HARD LOOK AT ITSELF. IT HAS FORCED CHANGES ON THE PGA TOUR, AND IT HAS LEFT THE DP WORLD TOUR WONDERING WHAT FUTURE IT HAS IN THE SPORT.
14 EVENTS, WITH EVERY PLAYER PLAYING IN EVERY EVENT. 14 EVENTS IN 7 COUNTRIES ACROSS 4 CONTINENTS. 48 PLAYERS FROM 16 COUNTRIES ACROSS 6 CONTINENTS. IN JUST 12 MONTHS LIV GOLF HAS ADDRESSED THREE OF PROFESSIONAL MEN'S GOLF'S BIGGEST ISSUES: FIRSTLY GETTING THE BEST PLAYERS TO PLAY MORE OFTEN TOGETHER AT THE SAME EVENT, SECONDLY CREATING ANTICIPATION WITH AN OFF SEASON, AND FINALLY PLAYING MORE OF A GLOBAL SCHEDULE. IS LIV GOLF PERFECT? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT IT WITHOUT QUESTION IS HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF, DESPITE WHAT THE LIKES OF EAMONN LYNCH AND BRANDEL CHAMBLEE TRY TO TELL YOU.
SO, AFTER 116 DAYS LIV GOLF RETURNS FOR ITS FIRST, FULL SEASON.
IN THE OFF SEASON THEY HAVE SIGNED CHILE'S MITO PEREIRA, COLOMBIA'S SEBASTIAN MUNOZ, SOUTH AFRICA'S DEAN BURMESTER, NEW ZEALAND'S DANNY LEE, BELGIUM'S THOMAS PIETERS AND USA'S BRENDAN STEELE, ADDING TO THE GLOBAL MAKEUP OF THE 48 PLAYERS COMPETING IN THE LEAGUE. THE ALL-AUSTRALIAN PUNCH GOLF CLUB HAS BECOME RIPPER GOLF CLUB, AND THE NIBLICKS HAVE BEEN REBRANDED AS RANGEGOATS GOLF CLUB, AND LIV GOLF HAS SECURED A TV DEAL IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CW IS ONE OF THE FIVE NATIONAL NETWORKS IN THE US, WITH OVER 190 AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEY WILL BROADCAST EACH LIV GOLF EVENT - FRIDAYS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE CW APP, AND SATURDAY'S AND SUNDAY'S ON THE NETWORK (WORLDWIDE BROADCAST DETAILS ARE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE TIME OF WRITING).
NEW PLAYERS, NEW COURSES AND A NEW SEASON, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME TO MISS IT AND ANTICIPATE IT. LIV GOLF MAY WELL NOT BE PERFECT, BUT IT HAS TO GIVE THE TOURS FOOD FOR THOUGHT. LESS IS MORE, AND GOLF WILL BENEFIT FROM A BREAK IN PLAY FOR PROFESSIONALS. LESS EVENTS, BIGGER EVENTS, LIKE F1, HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ELEVATE THE SPORT EVEN HIGHER, AND DRIVE GREATER PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE WORLD. LIV GOLF'S INAUGURAL FULL SEASON FEATURES COURSES OF CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE ACROSS THE WORLD, AND IT ALL BEGINS IN MEXICO THIS WEEK.
EL CAMALEON GOLF CLUB, MAYAKOBA, IN MEXICO IS THE FIRST DESTINATION OF THE 2023 SEASON, WITH LIV GOLF MAYAKOBA TEEING OFF AT 12.15PM LOCAL TIME ON FRIDAY (6.15PM GMT). THE RESORT HAS BEEN THE LONG-TIME HOST OF THE MAYAKOBA CLASSIC AND THEN MAYAKOBA CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE PGA TOUR, FROM 2007 until 2022, AND HAS CLEAR CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE. CURRENT LIV GOLF MEMBERS GRAEME MCDOWELL AND PAT PEREZ WON AT MAYAKOBA IN 2015 AND 2016 RESPECTIVELY, AND NO DOUBT WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEGINNING THE SEASON ON THE CARIBBEAN COASTLINE.
"A Greg Norman-designed masterpiece, El Camaleón blends through the diverse ecosystems of Mayakoba, including tropical jungle, dense mangroves, freshwater canals and pristine Riviera Maya oceanfront. The 18-hole professional golf course captures spectacular views in every direction and accommodates golfers of all abilities, with five tee marks at each hole offering distance options for every player." (MAYAKOBAGOLF.COM)
TO LAUNCH THE FIRST FULL SEASON OF LIV GOLF ON A GREG NORMAN COURSE IS SOMEWHAT SYMBOLIC, AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THE LEAGUE CAN VISIT HIS COURSES IN ARGENTINA, INDIA, VIETNAM, PHILIPPINES, CHINA, KOREA, JAPAN, THAILAND, INDONESIA, EGYPT AND SOUTH AFRICA, THEN LIV GOLF WILL BE WELL ALONG THE WAY TO FULFILLING ONE OF ITS CORE MISSIONS - GROWING THE GAME. MAYAKOBA IS LOCATED ON THE CARIBBEAN COASTLINE IN THE SOUTH EAST OF MEXICO, SOME 1600KM EAST OF MEXICO CITY, AND 70 MILES SOUTH OF CANCUN.
MEXICO HAS A TREMENDOUS GOLF HERITAGE, AND IN THE MODERN ERA THEIR PRE-EMINENT GOLFER IS ABRAHAM ANCER. ANCER COMES INTO THIS WEEK OFF THE BACK OF VICTORY AT THE SAUDI INTERNATIONAL, AND HE WOULD SURELY LOVE TO GET OFF TO THE PERFECT START BY WINNING AT HOME IN MEXICO. HIS COMPATRIOT CARLOS ORTIZ IS ALSO ON THE FIREBALLS TEAM, LEAD BY SERGIO GARCIA. ORTIZ CLAIMED VICTORY ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR IN THE 2014 EL BOSQUE MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP, AND CAME CLOSE TO VICTORY IN PORTLAND IN THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES LAST SUMMER. MEXICO IS THE FIRST OF SEVEN COUNTRIES WHICH LIV GOLF WILL VISIT IN 2023, AND THIS WEEK CAN SET THE TONE FOR A MUCH ANTICIPATED SEASON TO COME.
LIV GOLF'S FIRST STOP ON AMERICAN SOIL IS IN THE SONORAN DESERT AT THE SPECTACULAR GALLERY GOLF CLUB, IN MARANA, NEAR TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE GALLERY GOLF CLUB HOSTED THE WGC MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2007 AND 2008, WITH LIV GOLF MAJESTICKS GC PLAYER HENRIK STENSON VICTORIOUS IN 2007, DEFEATING REIGNING US OPEN CHAMPION GEOFF OGILVY 2&1 IN THE FINAL. IN 2008 TIGER WOODS DELIVERED A CRUSHING DEFEAT TO STEWART CINK IN THE FINAL, WINNING 8&7 BEFORE GOING ON TO CLAIM THE US OPEN AT TORREY PINES LATER THAT SUMMER.
THE COURSE IS SET IN A DRAMATIC DESERT LANDSCAPE, WITH ECHOES OF THE WILD WEST AND THE SAGUARO CACTI COME INTO PLAY ON MANY OF THE HOLES. THE VIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR, BUT DO NOT GET FOOLED INTO THINKING THIS IS ANOTHER RESORT STYLE EASY COURSE, THE GALLERY GOLF CLUB HAS SOME TRICKY GREENS AND DRIVING THE BALL IN PLAY AND FINDING THE RIGHT PART OF THE FAIRWAY IS IMPERATIVE TO SCORE WELL AROUND THERE.
TUCSON WAS A MAINSTAY ON THE PGA TOUR FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IN THE LAST TWO DECADES IT HAS DISAPPEARED FROM THE SCHEDULE, WITH ITS NEIGHBOUR PHOENIX TAKING THE LIMELIGHT WITH THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN. PHIL MICKELSON WON IN TUCSON AS AN AMATEUR, HIS FIRST PGA TOUR WIN, IN 1990, AND THE 6-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION WON THREE TUCSON OPEN TITLES IN HIS CAREER. DAVID DUVAL, GEOFF OGILVY, LEE JANZEN, LARRY MIZE, TOM WATSON, JOHNNY MILLER, LEE TREVINO, BOB CHARLES, AND JIMMY DEMARET ALL WON THERE IN THEIR CAREERS. TUCSON, THE MARANA DESERT AND DOVE MOUNTAIN IN PARTICULAR SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED FOR CLASSIC DESERT GOLF IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THIS IS A TRULY SPECTACULAR ADDITION TO LIV GOLF'S SCHEDULE.
IN THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MASTERS LIV GOLF HEADS TO ORLANDO, AND THE RESPECTED ORANGE COUNTY NATIONAL GOLF CENTER. THE CROOKED CAT COURSE WILL HOST THE TOURNAMENT, AND THE EXPOSED NATURE OF THE COURSE WILL OFFER A STERN TEST AHEAD OF THE YEAR'S FIRST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP. THE CENTER HAS HOSTED KORN FERRY TOUR GOLF IN THE PAST, AND ITS RELATIVE PROXIMITY TO AUGUSTA WILL BE AN ADDED BONUS FOR THE GUYS PLAYING ON LIV GOLF.
FOLLOWING THE MASTERS LIV GOLF CONTINUES ITS GLOBAL ODYSSEY WITH BACK TO BACK EVENTS IN ASIA-PACIFIC. THE MUCH ANTICIPATED EVENT IN AUSTRALIA COMES FROM THE GRANGE GOLF CLUB, NEAR ADELAIDE, FOLLOWED BY THE RENOWNED SENTOSA COUNTRY CLUB IN SINGAPORE.
AUSTRALIA WAS LONG TOUTED AS A DESTINATION FOR LIV GOLF, AND IT WAS THE FIRST VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED FOR THE 2023 SEASON. OF COURSE THE LIKES OF QUEENSLAND, MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY WERE SPECULATED AS BEING THE LIKE DESTINATION, BUT LIV GOLF HAS IDENTIFIED AND SECURED A COURSE AND A HOST CITY WHICH CAN TRULY EMBRACE LIV GOLF. ADELAIDE HOSTED THE FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX FROM 1985 TO 1995 AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR RACES ON THE ENTIRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR. LIV GOLF ADELAIDE HAS VIRTUALLY SOLD OUT ITS 20,000 TICKETS PER DAY ALREADY, WHICH IS A SIGN OF THE ENTHUSIASM WHICH THE LOCALS HAVE FOR THIS EVENT. ADELAIDE LAST HOSTED ONE OF THE MAJOR AUSTRALIAN GOLF EVENTS (PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, AUSTRALIAN OPEN, AUSTRALIAN MASTERS) IN 1998 WHEN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN VISITED ROYAL ADELAIDE.
THE GRANGE GOLF CLUB IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH AUSTRALIA COAST, SOME 7 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN ADELAIDE, AND CO-HOSTED THE 2008 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH ROYAL ADELAIDE. THAT EVENT WAS WON BY SCOTLAND. THE GRANGE ALSO HOSTED SEVEN EDITIONS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OPEN, WITH THE LAST COMING IN 1988. ADELAIDE IS AN AREA STARVED OF TOP CLASS GOLF, SO I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE FULLY EMBRACED LIV GOLF. AUSTRALIA IS THE LAND OF INNOVATION, ESPECIALLY IN SPORT. KERRY PACKER CREATED WORLD SERIES CRICKET, CHALLENGING THE ESTABLISHMENT TO CHANGE THE SPORT, AND IN 1997 RUPERT MURDOCH LAUNCHED SUPER LEAGUE, WHICH ALSO SET IN MOTION A PATH TOWARDS PROFESSIONALISING RUGBY LEAGUE ACROSS THE WORLD. ADELAIDE USED TO USE THE TAGLINE 'ADELAIDE ALIVE' FOR THE FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX, THIS IS WHERE LIV GOLF CAN COME ALIVE.
SENTOSA COUNTRY CLUB IS SET IN THE SPECTACULAR SINGAPORE HARBOUR, AND IS THE LONG TIME HOST OF THE SINGAPORE OPEN ON THE ASIAN TOUR, AND THE HSBC WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LET AND LPGA. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT LIV GOLF ONLY HAS ONE ASIAN GOLFER ON THE TEAMS THIS YEAR (ANIRBAN LAHIRI) AND I FEEL THAT GOING FORWARD THEY MUST RECRUIT, OR PROMOTE 3-4 ASIAN GOLFERS FROM THE ASIAN TOUR TO THE LEAGUE. THE EVENT IN THAILAND HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AT STONEHILL LAST YEAR, AND THAILAND HAS A STRONG GOLFING PEDIGREE, SO I AM SURPRISED THAT LIV HAS ENDED UP AT SENTOSA RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF STONEHILL IN 2022.
THAT SAID, SENTOSA IS A MAGNIFICENT DESTINATION FOR GOLF, AND SINGAPORE IS A TRANSPORT HUB, WHICH IS PROBABLY IN THEIR THINKING, ALLOWING PLAYERS TO GET BACK TO WHERE THEY LIVE AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE EVENTS PRIOR TO THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY. CURRENT LIV GOLF MEMBERS SERGIO GARCIA AND IAN POULTER HAVE WON THE SINGAPORE OPEN ON THE SERAPONG COURSE AT SENTOSA IN 2009 AND 2018 RESPECTIVELY.
EITHER SIDE OF THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (WHICH WILL BE PLAYED AT OAK HILL), LIV GOLF STAGES ITS THIRD AND FOURTH US-BASED EVENTS IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA AND WASHINGTON DC. CEDAR RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB IN TULSA IS ANOTHER GEM OF A GOLF COURSE NOT SEEN MUCH BY A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE, AND IS IN AN AREA WHERE THE PGA TOUR HAS LARGELY NOT HOSTED EVENTS IN RECENT YEARS. THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AND US OPEN HAVE BEEN PLAYED AT SOUTHERN HILLS IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING THE PGA IN 2022, WHICH WAS WON BY JUSTIN THOMAS, WHO DEFEATED NEW LIV GOLF SIGNING MITO PEREIRA, AND WILL ZALATORIS IN A PLAYOFF.
CEDAR RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB WAS OPENED IN 1967 AND THE COURSE WAS REDESIGNED IN 2016.
TRUMP WASHINGTON DC IS THE FIRST OF THREE TRUMP-0WNED PROPERTIES WHICH WILL STAGE LIV GOLF EVENTS IN 2023, AND THIS COULD BE PERHAPS THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF THE LOT. SITUATED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE POTOMAC RIVER, THIS TOM FAZIO AND ARTHUR HILLS MASTERPIECE IS SET TO PROVIDE A THRILLING BACKDROP TO THE 7TH EVENT OF THE 2023 LIV GOLF LEAGUE SEASON. THE COURSE HOSTED THE 2017 SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, WON BY BERNHARD LANGER.
FOLLOWING THE US OPEN LIV GOLF HEADS TO EUROPE, AND A TRULY STORIED COURSE WHICH HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY RANKED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN EUROPE. VALDERRAMA STAGED THE WGC-AMERICAN EXPRESS CHAMPIONSHIP FROM 1999 TO 2000, WITH TIGER WOODS VICTORIOUS OVER MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ IN THE 1999 EDITION. VALDERRAMA WAS THE VENUE FOR THE FINALE TO THE EUROPEAN TOUR SEASON, STAGING THE VOLVO MASTERS FROM 1988 TO 1996, AND 2002 to 2008. IN RECENT YEARS THE COURSE ALSO HOSTED THE ANDALUCIA VALDERRAMA MASTERS IN 2010, 2011 AND 2017-2022. THE SPANISH OPEN WAS PLAYED THERE IN 2016. BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT THE EVENT WHICH LAUNCHED VALDERRAMA TO THE WORLD, WAS THE 1997 RYDER CUP. SEVE BALLESTEROS CAPTAINED EUROPE TO A DRAMATIC VICTORY OVER THE UNITED STATES, IN A EVENT WHICH WAS DOMINATED BY THE RAIN IN SPAIN.
CURRENT LIV GOLF MEMBERS SERGIO GARCIA, IAN POULTER AND GRAEME MCDOWELL HAVE EACH WON AT VALDERRAMA. GARCIA HAS WON THREE TIMES AT THE VENUE, AND FINISHED SECOND ANOTHER THREE TIMES.
THE FINAL EVENT ON THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE BEFORE THE OPEN SEES LIV GOLF RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, CENTURION GOLF CLUB OUTSIDE OF LONDON HOSTED THE INAUGURAL EVENT OF THE 2022 LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES. THE EVENT WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL AREA, AND AS LONDON IS ONE OF LIV'S BASES I FULL EXPECT THIS COURSE TO REMAIN PART OF LIV GOLF FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. WITH THIS EVENT BEING PLAYED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP I WOULD EXPECT THE SCHEDULE TO CHANGE IN THE COMING YEARS, PERHAPS SEEING LIV PLAYING ON A LINKS COURSE, WITH CENTURION MOVING TO THE WEEK AFTER THE OPEN.
CHARL SCHWARTZEL WON THE INDIVIDUAL TITLE HERE IN 2022, WITH THE STINGERS CLAIMING TEAM GLORY.
FOLLOWING THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LIV GOLF RETURNS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR FOUR EVENTS TO CONCLUDE THE INDIVIDUAL SEASON-LONG CHAMPIONSHIP. THE GREENBRIER HAS HOSTED THE RYDER CUP, IN 1977, AND A PGA TOUR EVENT FROM 2010 TO 2019. THREE CURRENT LIV GOLF MEMBERS HAVE WON AT THE GREENBRIER - DANNY LEE, KEVIN NA AND JOAQUIN NIEMANN HAVE TASTED SUCCESS AROUND THE OLD WHITE COURSE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
TRUMP BEDMINSTER STAGED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT IN 2022, WON BY HENRIK STENSON. AS WITH ALL THE TRUMP COURSES, THIS IS A HIGH-END EXPERIENCE, AND WATER COMES INTO PLAY ON MANY HOLES.
RICH HARVEST FARMS RETURNS TO THE SCHEDULE FOR 2023, WITH LIV GOLF VISITING THE WINDY CITY ONCE AGAIN.
TRUMP DORAL WILL STAGE THE FINAL EVENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEASON, WITH THE TEAM EVENT MOVING TO ROYAL GREENS IN JEDDAH. AGAIN LIV GOLF IS USING A VENUE WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT PGA TOUR HISTORY. PHIL MICKELSON, DUSTIN JOHNSON AND PATRICK REED WILL LOOK TO ADD TO THE MEMORY OF PREVIOUS SUCCESSES AROUND THE BLUE MONSTER.
ROYAL GREENS HAS BUILT UP AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. LAST YEAR BROOKS KOEPKA CLAIMED THE INDIVIDUAL TITLE HERE, AND ABRAHAM ANCER, HAROLD VARNER III, GRAEME MCDOWELL AND DUSTIN JOHNSON HAVE ALL WON ON THIS COURSE IN THE SAUDI INTERNATIONAL. LYDIA KO WON THE SAUDI LADIES INTERNATIONAL HERE LAST WEEK, ADDING HER NAME for the second time TO A TROPHY WHICH INCLUDES Georgia hall and Emily Kristine Pedersen as previous winners.
SO WITH 13 INDIVIDUAL EVENTS PRECEDING THE YEAR-ENDING TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP CAN ANYONE STOP DUSTIN JOHNSON AND THE 4ACES FROM RETAINING THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM TITLES RESPECTIVELY? IN MY OPINION, YES. THE LIKES OF CAMERON SMITH WILL BE PLAYING A FULL SEASON THIS TIME AROUND, AND I CAN SEE HIM BEING THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE 4ACES WILL DEFINITELY BE CHALLENGED BY RIPPER GC AND THE RANGEGOATS, AS WELL AS A FULLY INVESTED MAJESTICKS GC.
DUSTIN JOHNSON WAS THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION FOR THE LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES IN 2022 GETTY IMAGES/LIV GOLF
SO THE SCENE IS SET FOR A HISTORIC FIRST FULL SEASON OF LIV GOLF. CONTROVERSY STILL RAGES. THE BIASED MEDIA CONTINUES TO SPOUT HYPOCRISY. THE ESTABLISHMENT STANDS STILL WHILST THIS SAUDI FUNDED UPSTART MOVES FORWARD. WHATEVER YOUR VIEW ON IT, YOU CANNOT DENY THAT LIV GOLF HAS PUT GOLF INTO THE HEADLINES, AND BROUGHT A NEW FOCUS TO THE SPORT. IT WILL BE GRIPPING TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS IN 2023.
SHANK WILL BE COVERING EVERY LIV GOLF EVENT DURING 2023 REMOTELY VIA SHANKMEDIA.CO.UK/GOLF AND FACEBOOK.
MORE LIV GOLF NEWS
LIV GOLF LAUNCHES OTT SERVICE FOR WORLWIDE AUDIENCE; LIVGOLF+ IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON FIRETV, AMAZON FIRE STICK, APPLE TV, APPLE APP STORE, GOOGLE PLAY AND LIVGOLFPLUS.COM
LIVGOLF+ FREE TO DOWNLOAD AND WATCH IN 2023
23 FEBRUARY 2023 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: LIV GOLF HAS TODAY ANNOUNCED ON LIVGOLF.COM THE CREATION OF LIVGOLF+, AN OTT (OVER THE TOP, DIRECT TO CONSUMER) SERVICE TO BROADCAST ALL OF ITS 14 EVENTS IN 2023 TO AUDIENCES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE 2022 LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES WAS BROADCAST ON YOUTUBE, LIVGOLF.COM AND FACEBOOK, AS WELL AS SELECTED BROADCAST AND STREAMING PLATFORMS, SUCH AS DAZN. IT NOW APPEARS AS THOUGH LIV GOLF IS TAKING A DIFFERENT STRATEGY TO CREATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS WITH THE LAUNCH OF LIVGOLF+. FOR 2023 THE SERVICE IS COMPLETELY FREE, ALLOWING FANS TO WATCH ON ANY DEVICE WHEREVER THEY ARE (OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES), AND I AM SURE LIV GOLF WILL BE HOPING TO MONETISE THE SERVICE IN THE COMING MONTHS THROUGH ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTION.
I HAVE ALREADY USED LIVGOLF+ ON MY MAC, AT WWW.LIVGOLFPLUS.COM AND DOWNLOADED IT TO MY OPPO ANDROID PHONE, AND MY AMAZON FIRESTICK, AND I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE APP. THE STREAMING QUALITY IS OUTSTANDING AND THE OPTIONS, WHICH I AM SURE WILL BE ADDED TO THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, ARE SUPERB. I CAN WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF EVERY TOURNAMENT IN 2022, AS WELL AS REPLAYS OF EACH LIVE BROADCAST. CURRENTLY THE ASIAN TOUR DOES NOT HAVE A TV BROADCAST DEAL IN THE UK, AND LIV GOLF HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE TOUR, SO I WOULD IMAGINE IT VERY LIKELY THAT THE ASIAN TOUR WILL APPEAR ON LIVGOLF+ IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY EVENTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
ONE THING THAT LIV GOLF MUST DO TO MAKE LIVGOLF+ AN ATTRACTIVE PURCHASE FOR FANS, IF IT GOES BEHIND A PAYWALL, IS CREATE ADDITIONAL CONTENT TO THE LIVE BROADCAST. PERHAPS CONTENT SUCH AS COVERING PRACTICE ROUNDS FOR SUBSCRIBERS. IF THEY ARE TO GO DOWN THE SUBSCRIPTION MODEL I CERTAINLY BELIEVE A SIMILAR MODEL TO F1TV WOULD BE THE MOST APPEALING ONE FOR ME AS A FAN. PAYING A ONE-OFF FEE FOR AROUND £20 A YEAR WOULD BE AFFORDABLE AND BECAUSE IT IS BASED AROUND A SINGLE SPORT, I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION.
FOR THE SHORT TERM, IT IS A RELIEF THAT THEY HAVEN'T SIGNED ON WITH ANOTHER SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE SUCH AS DAZN. THIS SPORT NEEDS THE EXPOSURE AND NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE, AND WHILST THE LIKES OF DISCOVERY PLUS AND SKY HAVE HUGE AUDIENCES, SOMETHING LIKE DAZN DOES NOT, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER SUBSCRIPTION ON TOP OF AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, DISCOVERY PLUS AND F1TV.
I DO HAVE TO SAY BROADCASTING ON YOUTUBE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM FOR ME. THE WORLD SURF LEAGUE BROADCASTS THEIR EVENTS ON YOUTUBE AND ATTRACTS HUGE AUDIENCES, AND CRUCIALLY IT IS APPEALING TO A YOUNGER AUDIENCE, THE KIND OF WHICH LIV GOLF IS TRYING TO REACH. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL BROADCASTS SELECTED GAMES ON YOUTUBE, AND SEVERAL OTHER SPORTS USE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST STREAMING WEBSITE TO BROADCAST THEIR EVENTS.
LIV GOLF ANNOUNCES FIRST COMMERCIAL PARTNER AS MOMENTUM GROWS AFTER THE CW BROADCAST DEAL
LIV GOLF AND EASYPOST ANNOUNCE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
An Industry Leader, EasyPost to Serve as The Official Shipping Solutions Partner of LIV Golf
An Industry Leader, EasyPost to Serve as The Official Shipping Solutions Partner of LIV Golf
London and West Palm Beach, FL (February 22, 2023): LIV Golf and EasyPost today announced that the industry leader in global shipping logistics, ecommerce and software development is now the Official Shipping Solutions Partner of LIV Golf. The agreement is the first global partnership for the groundbreaking LIV Golf League, which launches February 24-26 in Mayakoba, Mexico and features many of the world’s best golfers competing in 14 events in seven different countries throughout the year.
“LIV Golf is proud to partner with EasyPost as we embark on a momentous season for our sport,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. “Our organizations are built on teamwork, innovation, and developing opportunities for global growth. We’re excited to work together as the LIV Golf League delivers incredible competition featuring the game’s biggest names to new audiences around the world.”
“LIV Golf is proud to partner with EasyPost as we embark on a momentous season for our sport,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. “Our organizations are built on teamwork, innovation, and developing opportunities for global growth. We’re excited to work together as the LIV Golf League delivers incredible competition featuring the game’s biggest names to new audiences around the world.”
As an official global partner, EasyPost will be prominently integrated into league broadcasts, LIV Golf social content and on-course signage at 2023 tournaments. Throughout the season, the software company and LIV Golf will collaborate on shipping solutions and logistics strategies to help enhance delivery processes across multiple platforms.
“We are thrilled to sponsor LIV Golf in 2023,” said Sam Hancock, VP of Growth at EasyPost. “Their innovative approach to golf will bring the sport to a broader range of spectators, and that’s something we are excited to get behind. We share the same mission, to modernize and innovate in our respective fields.”
EasyPost was founded in 2012 as the first RESTful API (Application Program Interface) for shipping and has executed over a billion shipments. Built specifically to meet modern shipping challenges, the Utah-based software company’s innovative, best-in-class solution solves complex logistics problems for thousands of businesses of all sizes, from public companies to small and midsize businesses. The company’s multi-carrier shipping API was designed for efficiency and reliability and is available in more than 200 countries worldwide, making shipping simple for its customers and enabling a smoother online delivery experience.
“We are thrilled to sponsor LIV Golf in 2023,” said Sam Hancock, VP of Growth at EasyPost. “Their innovative approach to golf will bring the sport to a broader range of spectators, and that’s something we are excited to get behind. We share the same mission, to modernize and innovate in our respective fields.”
EasyPost was founded in 2012 as the first RESTful API (Application Program Interface) for shipping and has executed over a billion shipments. Built specifically to meet modern shipping challenges, the Utah-based software company’s innovative, best-in-class solution solves complex logistics problems for thousands of businesses of all sizes, from public companies to small and midsize businesses. The company’s multi-carrier shipping API was designed for efficiency and reliability and is available in more than 200 countries worldwide, making shipping simple for its customers and enabling a smoother online delivery experience.
