Rumours have been circulating that the Saudi-backed LIV Golf is teeing up an event in Christchurch, possibly as earlyas next year.
The Herald understands LIV Golf has been looking at the possibility of bringing a high-profile tournament to Christchurch Golf Club – New Zealand’s second oldest club – and one where Charles is a patron.
Christchurch Golf Club general manager Mike Hadley confirmed to the Herald LIV Golf officials had “visited” the course but as yet, “there’s been no follow-up”.
However, Charles says he would want nothing to do with the rebel tour, which has fractured the professional golfing landscape and driven a wedge between the sport’s biggest stars by offering megamillion-dollar deals.
“I hope they’re not playing at either of my golf courses”, says Charles, who lives in Christchurch and is also closely linked to Clearwater Golf Club.
“I don’t endorse LIV golf in any way – in fact, quite the opposite.”
LIV launched in 2021 and has since made huge signings with massive multimillion-dollar deals attracting Brooks Koepka, John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith among many other high-profile golfers.
Sir Bob Charles is against the idea of LIV Golf coming to Christchurch. Photo / File
On the other side of the green is the PGA Tour. Once the controlling figure in professional golf, the PGA has had its grip on the game wrenched away – along with dozens of its greatest players. It still boasts names like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, but it used to have them all.
The agitation caused by LIV has also wound up Charles, the first New Zealander to win a major (1963 British Open) and still the only Kiwi to collect the Claret Jug.
“I want nothing to do with it. I wouldn’t walk across the street to watch,” he told the Herald when approached for comment this week.
The closest LIV has come to New Zealand shores is Adelaide, which hosted a tournament for the second time earlier this year.
Chase Koepka celebrates a hole-in-one with his caddie on the 12th, showered in beer from the crowd, at LIV Golf Adelaide last year. Photo / Getty Images
The event, going by LIV’s statistics, was a resounding success. It offered an eye-watering prize pool (NZ$43 million) and attracted almost 100,000 spectators across three days at the Grange Golf Club.
The previous year, a smaller crowd also chugged its way through almost 117,000 beers.
Christchurch Golf Club, New Zealand's second oldest. Photo / George Heard
LIV Golf has proved hugely popular with a younger demographic.
In Adelaide, the party only began at the “Watering Hole” and it kicked on long after the final putt dropped and well into the night, with headline artists including Tones And I, DJ Fisher and Flight Facilities.
The three-day event was also a boon for South Australian tourism – according to LIV, with more than 40% of ticket buyers “from out of state”.
Christchurch is in the market for such an event, having recently lost its leg of the popular Sail GP Series to Auckland.
When Christchurch was successful in securing Russell Coutts’ revolutionary regatta it was the city’s economic development agency, ChristchurchNZ, that sat at the negotiating table.
But when approached to address the LIV Golf rumours this week, the agency refused to speak.
“ChristchurchNZ has no comment to make,” a senior communications manager said.
While Christchurch Golf Club confirmed LIV Golf had paid it a visit, questions to the rebel tour from the Herald have as yet gone unanswered.
However, Charles – the winner of multiple PGA Tour events across his career and many more on the Senior PGA Tour – believes there is no room for LIV Golf, in Christchurch or anywhere.
“They’ve been hugely disruptive to the game of golf,” he said.
Golf NZ chief executive Jeff Latch says he understands LIV are looking to move the Adelaide tournament from April to February in 2025.
“And so if they’re down here doing that event there’s potential for there to be events in New Zealand as well.”, he told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB.
Latch says the cost to host a LIV tournament is “millions of dollars – US”.
Pressed on the chances of the event going ahead, Latch wasn’t optimistic.
“I think they’re reasonably slim.”
Aside from Christchurch Golf Club, other potential host courses include Clearwater Resort and Russley Golf Club.
Clearwater general manager Aiden Berry told the Herald “no comment” when asked if LIV had visited his course.
Russley GM Tony Marriott confirmed they’d not yet been approached, but they’d like to be.
“We would be 100% behind LIV Golf coming to Christchurch, I’m sure the public of Christchurch would love to see the best players in the world playing here.”
Marriott believes his course would be a perfect fit for the event and that LIV would be welcomed with open arms.
“I’d be devastated if any of our members objected to us hosting that tournament”.
