LIV Golf's fourth tournament of the 2023 season, LIV Golf Adelaide, is scheduled to commence on April 21, 2023 and run through April 23, 2023 at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia. The tournament's debut Down Under will feature a 'party hole', which shall be known as 'The Watering Hole'.
The PGA Tour's WM Phoenix Open saw the Colosseum fill up with 20,000 fans letting loose on the 16th hole. The contentious series seems to replicate the celebration with greater grandeur.
LIV Golf designs The Watering Hole at LIV Golf Adelaide
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman seems to be aiming to attract higher regards from fans of the game to The Grange's par-3 12th, whilst also inadvertently hyping up the series' brand. DJ stands, packed grandstands, and additional entertainment with premium-priced spots for special invitees and VIPs are reportedly planned on The Watering Hole to amuse the patrons of the game.
The event planned for the $25 million tournament in Adelaide has caused a stir amongst fans and critics for it seems to be a blatant copy of the infamous 'Party Hole' at the 16th in the WM Phoenix Open. With the two series grappling with the same pro golfers and constantly trying to one-up each other, juxtaposing the PGA Tour with the Saudi-backed series and vice versa has become a part of the new normal in the world of professional golf.
The announcement of the entertaining addition to the tournament in Adelaide was met with severe criticism from fans online.
One user wrote on Twitter:
"This is hilarious. The sexual tension between LIV and the PGA Tour can be cut with a putter. Your move PGA Tour! What's it gonna be? Shotgun starts? Shorts?"
Another tweet read:
"Appears LIV is copying the PGA Tour again."
Another patron expressed distaste by writing:
"The hole in Phoenix happened slowly over time until it became an 'event' that people in the area look forward to every year. This is just forced garbage that will ring hollow. And isn’t every hole a 'party hole' at LIV? There’s music on every tee box? This is a trash idea btw."
The Chainsmokers have reportedly been booked for this event, grabbing headlines for doing so. The addition of the band is certain to amp up the atmos of the arena to bring about the rowdy atmosphere that Greg Norman is trying to achieve.