One of Australia’s top golf courses, Royal Sydney, reportedly rejected the opportunity to host a LIV Golf tournament in 2023.
LIV chief Greg Norman toldfoxsports.com.au last month that he had a team in Australia inspecting several venues that could host a tournament as part of the Saudi-backed league’s expanded 2023 schedule.
Now the Sydney Morning Herald reports that during that visit, Norman’s team were not given access to the prestigious club.
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Royal Sydney would have been an attractive option for LIV Golf given its proximity to the world famous harbour, and situation in Sydney’s elite eastern suburbs.
Nonetheless, sources told SMH that Royal Sydney representatives informed LIV Golf that the club was not interested in playing host.
Royal Sydney has been absent from hosting a major event for some time, with its last Australian Open being in 2016, when Jordan Spieth won in a three-way playoff against Cameron Smith and Ashley Hall.
Before then, it hosted the 2013 Australian Open, which Rory McIlroy won over Adam Scott.
The Australian Open has since rotated between The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney, while this year’s comeback event will take place at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath and Victoria golf courses.
With LIV set to add another major event to the Australian schedule, Royal Sydney was reportedly content with staying out of the running.
Despite Sydney initially being the frontrunner to host a LIV tournament in April, Queensland now looms as a more likely destination, with Gold Coast’s Sanctuary Cove said to be one of the favourites.
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Making Queensland an especially attractive option now for LIV is the signing of Brisbane native and world No.2, Cameron Smith, for a reported $A140 million.
LIV chief Norman told foxsports.com.au that he is relishing the opportunity to tap into the Australian market in 2023, when his circuit goes from an eight-event invitational series to a 14-tournament league.
“It’s a market that I think is being abused to some degree, and unused on many fronts,” Norman said last month.
“My goal is to be able to bring what I can to the Australian market for the Australian fan base who absolutely love LIV’s product. The Australian market would embrace us like no other.
“So we’re going to come to Australia some time in the near future — I can’t give you any timelines — and we will give our product to the Australian people.”
