The ongoing civil war between the LIV Golf Series and the PGA Tour has continued, after it was announced the Saudi-backed circuit would be heading to Australia. It was confirmed on Monday that LIV would be heading to Australia - more specifically Adelaide - in its 14-event 2023 season.
The agreement will see the 48-man tournament take place at the Grange Golf Club in the South Australia capital in April, with LIV also returning in 2024. The deal had been reported for some time, before it was finally confirmed this week.
Upon the announcement, South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed Norman and his mega-money breakaway circuit, whilst also seeming to take aim at their great rivals the PGA Tour and the sport's 'establishment monopolist forces'.
Malinauskas said: "I’m very conscious of the arguments that the establishment monopolist forces in golf try and push around for their own benefit. I’m more interested in the facts.
“I think what Australians are focused on is having an internationalist view of the world which maximises the economic benefit in an appropriate way for the people of our country and our state but... I encourage a moment of pause, of caution and a rational analysis of basic facts.
“This is an unparalleled opportunity for our state and our country in a way that is utterly appropriate, and one that we’ve got an obligation to pursue, rather than the opposite.” Not everybody Down Under is keen on hosting LIV Golf though.
Since its inception earlier this year, the breakaway circuit has received plenty of criticism for its involvement and funding from Saudi Arabia, due to the Middle Eastern state's dismal human rights record. Former Australian senator Rex Patrick criticised the move, revealing that it will bring a 'stain' to the South Australian community.
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Patrick alluded to the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi establisment, claiming that taxpayers money should not be used to, "assist foreign leaders wash away unconscionable acts such as the murdering of a journalist for doing his job."
South Australian politician Tammy Franks also spoke out against LIV and the Saudi regime, claiming the breakaway circuit event was in fact a, "large-scale effort to sports wash Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and improve its global image."
