LIV Golf event hailed as "best in the world" as Norman makes major announcement

11 November 2023 , 18:13

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LIV Golf will return to Adelaide next year (Image: Getty)

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas has labelled LIV Golf's event in Adelaide the 'best anywhere in the world', after Greg Norman announced the Saudi-backed league will be returning down under in 2024.

LIV's first ever tournament in Norman's home country was held at The Grange in Adelaide in April, and it turned out to be one of the breakaway circuit's most succesful weeks to date. On the back of the success, the LIV CEO confirmed the league's return to South Australia in a glowing statement on Friday.

“The inaugural LIV Golf Adelaide showed the world how global audiences are embracing LIV Golf, which is breathing new life into the sport,” said Norman.

READ MORE: Greg Norman reveals LIV Golf plan for 2024 as doubt looms over PGA Tour merger

“It was the highlight tournament of our league’s first official season and a historic demonstration of competition, entertainment and fanfare that golf fans deserve. South Australia knows how to put on a show, and we look forward to seeing The Grange Golf Club set yet another elevated benchmark for the league as we raise the bar even higher in 2024.”

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The event will take place on on the 26th, 27th and 28th of April in 2024, and the return of the tournament has been welcomed with open arms by Premier, Malinauskas. The South Australia leader hailed the impact of the event, ranking it above any in the world of golf.

LIV Adelaide proved to be a hit with golf fans (Getty Images)

"Last year people weren't too sure what too expect, now they know exactly what to expect when they come to LIV Golf Adelaide, the best golf tournament anywhere in the world," Malinauskas said in a speech. "Greg had a vision for golf and it came to life in the form of LIV.

"It was Adelaide and South Australia that took the world by storm last year, and we are very, very excited replicated again in 2024." Malinauskas' comments were backed up last month, after the Adelaide event was named the World’s Best Golf Event of the Year 2023 at the World Golf Awards.

The event's showpiece proved to be the 'Watering Hole' at the par-three 12th, which was aptly named thanks to party atmosphere, and horseshoe grandstand that ran from tee to green. The highlight of the week came courtesy of Brooks Koepka's younger brother Chase, who landed an incredible hole-in-one in round three.

The now relegated LIV star aced the par-three 12th to spark wild scenes, as drinks were thrown into the air and onto the playing surface, replicating the famous 16th stadium hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour.

Following the success Norman has plans to make the Watering Hole bigger and better in 2024."I think the success of the Watering Hole could be expanded because of the popularity of it," he told Australian Golf Digest. "I think you can get more spectators around there...

"We used LIV Adelaide as the benchmark for all our other 13 events around the world. Because it created the true culture of what LIV is all about: the energy, the lifestyle, the integration of entertainment fandom. All that stuff was there and Adelaide was the one that stepped up to it. That type of thought process and working in collaboration with the Premier’s Office and his people, I think that could be very achievable.”

Joshua Lees