LIV Golf will make its African debut when Steyn City near Johannesburg hosts the tour’s first tournament on the continent from 20-22 March 2025, organisers announced on Saturday.
The Saudi-backed breakaway series has secured a multi-year contract for an annual South African tournament, bringing world-class golf to a nation that has produced legendary players including career Grand Slam winner Gary Player.
The announcement marks a significant expansion for LIV Golf, which will now stage tournaments across five continents. Major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia headline the tour’s star-studded field.
Home advantage for South African stars
Former Major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, both from South African, will have the opportunity to compete on home soil for the first time since joining the LIV circuit.
“It is always special to compete at home, and I am incredibly proud to bring LIV Golf to South Africa for the first time,” Oosthuizen said in a statement.
The tournament will showcase a unique format that distinguishes LIV from traditional golf tours. Unlike conventional 72-hole events staged over four days, LIV tournaments are condensed to 54 holes over three days and feature both individual and team competitions.
Senior LIV Golf official Ross Hallett emphasized the significance of the African expansion: “Bringing LIV Golf to South Africa is another significant moment in our journey. We currently have events in Asia, Europe, Australasia, North America and today we add Africa, marking another exciting opportunity to showcase LIV Golf to a new audience and market.”
Chilean Joaquin Niemann leads the LIV Golf success stories with six tournament victories, despite never winning a Major championship.
The breakaway tour, financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, launched in 2022 with LIV Golf London as its inaugural event. Fittingly, that first tournament was won by Schwartzel, who had claimed the Masters title 11 years earlier.
The South African tournament represents LIV Golf’s continued global expansion as it challenges traditional golf’s established order while bringing elite professional golf to new markets worldwide.
