The breakaway worldwide golf tour funded by Saudi Arabia’s huge wealth is to stage its first occasion in India early subsequent 12 months amid its continued growth and an deadlock over the game’s world calendar.
Sources mentioned the settlement, which has but to be formally signed, would see the venue internet hosting a LIV Worldwide Sequence occasion that includes 148 worldwide golfers alongside as much as 16 LIV League golfers.
They might compete throughout the Worldwide Sequence platform on the Asian Tour, with the target of launching a longer-term partnership in India.
In 2022, previous to internet hosting the primary LIV Golf occasion, LIV introduced The Worldwide Sequence – a 10-year dedication and $300M funding that created an annual sequence of elevated occasions sanctioned by the Asian Tour
The launch of LIV Golf shook the foundations {of professional} golf, with gamers similar to Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau defecting to the brand new group format, lured by Saudi’s billions.
To counter the risk, the US PGA Tour has agreed a $3bn funding from a consortium led by John Henry’s Fenway Sports activities Group.
The PGA Tour and Saudi’s Public Funding Fund have been in talks for over a 12 months about nearer co-operation to align the game’s world calendar.
To this point, LIV Golf occasions have been held in 9 international locations on 4 continents.
There have additionally been a string of Worldwide Sequence occasions elsewhere, together with this 12 months in international locations similar to England, Macau, Morocco and Qatar.
Mr Norman’s want to maneuver into India displays the affluence of the nation’s fast-growing center courses and an try to emulate the worldwide curiosity generated by the Indian Premier League in cricket, in line with one insider.
One supply inside golf mentioned that London-based strategic advisory agency CTD Advisors had suggested on the brand new partnership in India.
It may very well be introduced inside weeks, they added.
CTD Advisors couldn’t be reached for remark.
A LIV Golf spokesperson mentioned: “We are exploring new markets as The International Series continues to grow with the global impact of LIV Golf, both at the League level and with The International Series.
“The Sequence has an thrilling schedule of occasions remaining to find out the 2024 champion, and we stay up for saying the 2025 schedule sooner or later.”
