Saudi-funded LIV Golf strikes deal to tee off in India

The breakaway international golf tour funded by Saudi Arabia's vast wealth is to stage its first event in India early next year amid its continued expansion and an impasse over the sport's global calendar.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Norman, the former two-time Major-winner who now serves as commissioner and chief executive of LIV Golf, has reached the outline of a deal to stage an event at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon next February.

Sources said the agreement, which has yet to be formally signed, would see the venue hosting a LIV International Series event featuring 148 international golfers alongside up to 16 LIV League golfers.

They would compete within the International Series platform on the Asian Tour, with the objective of launching a longer-term partnership in India.

In 2022, prior to hosting the first LIV Golf event, LIV announced The International Series - a 10-year commitment and $300M investment that created an annual series of elevated events sanctioned by the Asian Tour

The launch of LIV Golf shook the foundations of professional golf, with players such as Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau defecting to the new team format, lured by Saudi's billions.

To counter the threat, the US PGA Tour has agreed a $3bn investment from a consortium led by John Henry's Fenway Sports Group.

The PGA Tour and Saudi's Public Investment Fund have been in talks for over a year about closer co-operation to align the sport's global calendar.

To date, LIV Golf events have been held in nine countries on four continents.

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There have also been a string of International Series events elsewhere, including this year in countries such as England, Macau, Morocco and Qatar.

Mr Norman's desire to move into India reflects the affluence of the country's fast-growing middle classes and an attempt to emulate the international interest generated by the Indian Premier League in cricket, according to one insider.

One source inside golf said that London-based strategic advisory firm CTD Advisors had advised on the new partnership in India.

It could be announced within weeks, they added.

CTD Advisors could not be reached for comment.

A LIV Golf spokesperson said: "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 Series has an exciting schedule of events remaining to determine the 2024 champion, and we look forward to announcing the 2025 schedule in due course."