LIV Golf has unveiled extra occasions as a part of its 2025 schedule, which options acquainted spots and new locales, reminiscent of South Korea and Indianapolis, Indiana.
But, the Saudi-backed circuit ignored a request from Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. Each main champions needed LIV to stage an occasion at a hyperlinks course previous to The Open Championship, hoping that it will higher put together them for golf’s oldest main.
As a substitute, the league will return to Southern Spain from Jul. 11-13, the week earlier than Royal Portrush hosts The Open in Northern Eire for a second time. Valderrama Golf Membership, the positioning of the 1997 Ryder Cup that usually attracts comparisons to Augusta Nationwide, will host a LIV match for the third straight 12 months. It’s the second consecutive season during which this course will stage this occasion immediatley earlier than The Open.
Valderrama is little question an outstanding golf course, one of many highlights of the LIV Golf season. However the issue lies with its place on the calendar. The golf course—together with the local weather—differs considerably from what gamers will face at The Open the next week. It’s no marvel why so many PGA Tour stars tee it up on the Genesis Scottish Open the week earlier than The Open annually. They need to get accustomed to the climate and hyperlinks golf, a very completely different model of play.
“It was actually two polar opposites of golf,” Smith stated to information.com.au on Oct. 30 about this previous 12 months, which featured LIV Golf’s Valderrama occasion and The Open in back-to-back weeks.
“It was actually sizzling [at Valderrama], and the ball was going a good distance up in altitude, after which getting on to hyperlinks [at Royal Troon], the place it’s fairly chilly and windy, it’s in all probability not the most effective prep.”
Three days after this previous 12 months’s Open at Royal Troon, forward of LIV Golf’s occasion in the UK, Rahm instructed Golf Digest’s Evin Priest that he wish to see a LIV Golf occasion held on a links-style course forward of The Open—much like what the PGA Tour does at The Renaissance Membership with the Genesis Scottish Open.
“I’m pushing for it,” Rahm stated to Golf Digest on Jul. 24.
“There’s a lot that goes into adjusting to hyperlinks golf, getting used to the greens and the ball reacting on the bottom. I didn’t give it some thought till after [Royal Troon], but it surely’s plain how a lot it helps to play a hyperlinks golf course the week earlier than the Open.”
Many LIV golf stars—aside from Rahm—struggled to get acclimated to the situations this previous July. Smith, who gained at St. Andrews in 2022, opened with a 9-over 80 and missed the lower at Royal Troon. Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, additionally did not make the weekend.
General, 5 of the 16 LIV gamers within the subject missed the lower, whereas solely three completed among the many high 20. Rahm tied for seventh, ending eight strokes again of champion Xander Schauffele.
Perhaps their outcomes would have been higher if LIV staged an occasion within the British Isles earlier than The Open Championship. Rahm and Smith actually really feel that means.
Nonetheless, LIV Golf has introduced 10 occasions for its 2025 schedule. 4 extra haven’t but been introduced. The partial 2025 schedule is listed beneath, which additionally contains the 4 majors:
Feb. 6-8 — LIV Golf Riyadh — Riyadh Golf Membership, Saudi Arabia
Feb. 14-16 — LIV Golf Adelaide — The Grange Golf Membership, Australia
Mar. 7-9 — LIV Golf Hong Kong — Hong Kong Golf Membership at Fanling, Hong Kong
Mar. 14-16 — LIV Golf Singapore — Sentosa Golf Membership, Singapore
Apr. 10-13 — The Masters — Augusta Nationwide, Georgia
Could 2-4 — LIV Golf Korea — Jack Nicklaus Golf Course, South Korea
Could 15-18 — PGA Championship — Quail Hole Membership, North Carolina
Jun. 12-15 — U.S. Open — Oakmont Nation Membership, Pennsylvania
Jun. 27-29 — LIV Golf Dallas — Maridoe Golf Membership, United States
Ju. 11-13 — LIV Golf Andalucía — Actual Membership Valderrama, Spain
Jul. 17-20 — The 153rd Open Championship — Royal Portrush, Northern Eire
Jul. 25-27 — LIV Golf United Kingdom — JCB Golf & Nation Membership, United Kingdom
Aug. 8-10 — LIV Golf Chicago — Bolingbrook Golf Membership, United States
Aug. 15-17 — LIV Golf Indianapolis — The Membership at Chatham Hills, United States
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
