LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed professional golf league, is gearing up for its third season in 2024. Despite not officially announcing its full schedule, there are already hints of major changes on the horizon.
According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, some of the venues for the upcoming season will be brand new, and the timing of certain events is raising eyebrows. Only three locations have been confirmed so far – Mayakoba in Mexico, the Greenbrier in West Virginia, and Valderrama in Spain. The other 11 venues have yet to be made official, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the announcement.
One notable aspect of the upcoming season is the number of international events. Out of the 14 tournaments, 8 will take place outside the United States, including locations like Jeddah, Hong Kong, Adelaide, England, Singapore, and South Korea. This global expansion reflects LIV Golf’s ambition to establish itself as a prominent force in the golfing world.
Interestingly, LIV Golf’s schedule will coincide with some of the PGA Tour’s new Signature events. For instance, the league’s opening weekend in Mexico will clash with the Pebble Beach tournament, while their Las Vegas event will overlap with the WM Phoenix Open, a fan-favorite tournament. The Los Angeles tournament will take place the week before the U.S. Open, which coincides with The Memorial. Furthermore, LIV Golf’s Oklahoma City event will coincide with the Travelers Championship, a week after the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
It seems that LIV Golf is intentionally vying for attention during key moments in the PGA Tour calendar, potentially adding more fuel to the growing competition between the two leagues.
Another noteworthy aspect is the absence of any tournaments at former President Donald Trump’s courses. While nothing has been confirmed, the preliminary schedule does not list any of his properties as host venues. Previously, President Trump’s courses had hosted two tournaments in 2022 and another two in 2023. However, LIV Golf will be playing at Trump National Doral outside of Miami for its Team Championship in October this year. Whether they will return to any of his courses after that remains uncertain.
As fans eagerly await the official announcement of LIV Golf’s 2024 schedule, anticipation is building for the eagerly-anticipated season. The league’s global reach and strategic scheduling adjustments suggest they are determined to make a lasting impact in the golfing world. With so much at stake and competition on the rise, the sport is poised for an exciting and action-packed future.
*Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.*