History of LIV Golf in Timeline

LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour, with 'LIV' representing 54, the number of holes played in its events. Launched in 2022 as the LIV Golf Invitational Series with its inaugural event at Centurion Club in the UK, it transitioned into the LIV Golf League in 2023.

1954: Opening of Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel

In 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel originally opened.

2008: Opening of Miami Nightclub LIV

In 2008, Miami Nightclub LIV opened, named after its location in the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

March 2022: LIV Golf First Tournament Schedule Announced

On 17 March 2022, Greg Norman announced the first eight tournament schedule for LIV Golf, featuring $255 million in prize money, no-cut 54-hole tournaments, 48 players in 12 four-man teams, and shotgun starts. Seven events have $20 million purses with $5 million for the top three teams, and a team championship offers $30 million to the top three players and $50 million in team prizes.

June 2022: Reports of LIV Golf evolving into a league format

In June 2022, reports surfaced that LIV Golf would transition into a league format the following year, featuring a 14-event schedule and 48 contracted players. LIV Golf events are scheduled to avoid conflicting with major championships, the PGA Tour's premier tournaments, and international team events.

June 2022: European Tour suspends LIV Golf participants and removes Henrik Stenson as Ryder Cup captain

In June 2022, the European Tour announced suspensions for LIV Golf participants from PGA Tour co-sanctioned events, leading to legal action. Henrik Stenson was also removed as captain of the European Ryder Cup team on 20 June 2022 due to his decision to join LIV Golf.

June 2022: PGA and European tours strengthen strategic alliance

In June 2022, the PGA and European tours announced a stronger "strategic alliance", including the PGA Tour increasing its stake in European Tour Productions to 40%, increased prize funds and PGA Tour cards for leading players in the DP World Tour Rankings for the following season.

June 2022: First LIV Golf Invitational Series event

In June 2022, the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event commenced at the Centurion Club near St Albans in Hertfordshire, UK, marking the beginning of the LIV Golf tour.

June 2022: Greg Norman reveals Tiger Woods declined to join LIV Golf

In a Washington Post interview published on 5 June 2022, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman disclosed that Tiger Woods had declined a substantial offer to join LIV Golf, which was a deal of high nine digits.

June 2022: Field released for the first LIV Golf event

On 1 June 2022, the field was released for the first LIV Golf event, featuring prominent players such as Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, and Lee Westwood. Dustin Johnson resigned from the PGA Tour on 7 June 2022, citing it was the best decision for him and his family.

June 2022: 9/11 families thank PGA Tour golfers

On 22 June 2022, a group of families affected by the September 11 attacks expressed gratitude to PGA Tour golfers for not joining LIV Golf, citing concerns over Saudi Arabia's involvement and reputation.

June 2022: Kevin Na resigns from PGA Tour

On 4 June 2022, Kevin Na became the first PGA Tour member to resign in order to participate in LIV Golf, citing potential disciplinary actions from the PGA Tour. James Piot also chose to play in the first LIV Golf tournament without joining the PGA Tour in June 2022.

June 2022: PGA Tour announces sanctions for LIV Golf participants

On 9 June 2022, the PGA Tour announced that members participating in LIV Golf events could face sanctions, including fines, suspensions, or bans from tour events and the Presidents Cup.

July 2022: LIV Golf formally applies to be included in the OWGR

In July 2022, LIV Golf officially applied for inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

July 2022: Tiger Woods speaks out against golfers joining LIV Golf

In July 2022, Tiger Woods expressed his disagreement with golfers who had joined LIV Golf, stating they had "turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,".

July 2022: U.S. Department of Justice investigates PGA Tour

On 11 July 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States Department of Justice was investigating the PGA Tour to determine if they have engaged in anti-competitive behavior with LIV Golf.

July 2022: 9/11 families condemn Trump for hosting LIV Golf

On 17 July 2022, a group of September 11 victims' family members criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting the LIV Golf tour at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

July 2022: LIV Golf to implement promotion and relegation system

On 27 July 2022, Greg Norman announced that LIV Golf would implement a promotion and relegation system, featuring a rankings list and a four-player relegation out of the 48 contracted players.

August 2022: Antitrust civil suit brought against the PGA Tour

In August 2022, LIV Golf and several players initiated an antitrust civil suit against the PGA Tour, which responded with a countersuit alleging that LIV Golf was encouraging PGA players to breach their existing contracts.

August 2022: LIV Golf announces further player signings

In August 2022, prior to the fourth event in Boston, LIV Golf announced that six more players had joined, including Open champion and world number two Cameron Smith and Chilean world number 19 Joaquín Niemann.

September 2022: PGA Tour sends letters regarding LIV Golf involvement to Japan Golf Tour members

In September 2022, Sports Illustrated reported that the PGA Tour sent letters to Japan Golf Tour members, stating that PGA Tour would exclude LIV Golf players from their co-sanctioned events, even if they were not members of the PGA Tour.

October 2022: LIV Golf enters into a 'strategic alliance' with the MENA Tour

In October 2022, LIV Golf entered into a strategic alliance with the MENA Tour, an arrangement intended to immediately afford LIV Golf events ranking points; however, the events would not receive points that year.

October 2022: Inaugural LIV Golf Team Championship held in Miami

In October 2022, the inaugural season of the LIV Golf Invitational Series culminated in a Team Championship, a seeded four-day, four-round, match play knock-out event held at Trump National Doral Miami.

2022: LIV Golf Invitational Event at Centurion Club

In 2022, LIV Golf held an invitational event at Centurion Club in the United Kingdom.

January 2023: LIV Golf Signs Broadcasting Deal with The CW

In January 2023, LIV Golf secured its first national broadcasting deal in the United States with The CW, controlled by Nexstar Media Group. However, some CW affiliates declined to carry LIV Golf, requiring the network to find alternate affiliates.

January 2023: LIV Golf League Season Two Schedule Released

In January 2023, the schedule for the second LIV Golf season, now called the LIV Golf League, was released. It featured 14 no-cut 54-hole tournaments in various locations, including new venues in the U.S., Mexico, Singapore, and Australia. Talor Gooch won the individual championship, and Crushers GC won the team championship.

March 2023: Miami Nightclub LIV Files Trademark Opposition Against LIV Golf

In March 2023, Miami nightclub LIV filed a Notice of Opposition to block a U.S. trademark registration by LIV Golf, citing similar marks and potential brand dilution.

June 2023: LIV Golf, PGA Tour, and PGA European Tour Merger Announcement

In June 2023, LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and PGA European Tour announced a merger to pool their commercial rights into a new for-profit venture funded by the Public Investment Fund. The aim was to unify global golf, ensuring all stakeholders benefit. Jay Monahan would be CEO, and Yasir Al-Rumayyan chairman, with the PGA Tour controlling the board. All litigation would end, with a fair re-application process for players. The agreement was controversial among some PGA Tour players.

December 2023: Format of 2024 Individual Championship Undetermined

As of December 2023, the format of the individual championship in the 2024 LIV Golf season had not been released.

December 2023: Jon Rahm signs with LIV Golf and acquires ownership in Legion XIII

In December 2023, Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, joined LIV Golf and became an owner in a new expansion team later named Legion XIII, adding Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt to LIV Golf, along with Kieran Vincent.

2023: Top Ten Career Money Leaders on the LIV Tour

Following the 2023 season, the top ten career money leaders on the LIV tour were identified.

December 31, 2023: Deadline for PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund Deal

The deadline for completing the deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund was December 31, 2023, but parties negotiated for an extension.

January 31, 2024: PGA Tour Announces Investment from Strategic Sports Group

On January 31, 2024, the PGA Tour announced that its for-profit arm, PGA Tour Enterprises, would receive an initial investment of $1.5 billion from Strategic Sports Group, a Fenway Sports Group-backed consortium of U.S. professional sports owners. An additional $1.5 billion was planned following the conclusion of negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Active players would be offered equity grants in PGA Tour Enterprises.

February 2024: Start of the 2024 LIV Golf Season

The 2024 LIV Golf season began in February 2024. The season includes 14 no-cut 54-hole tournaments with new locations such as West Virginia, Nashville, Las Vegas, Houston, and Hong Kong. The season will feature a new individual championship in addition to the team championship. Newcomers include Tyrell Hatton and Jon Rahm.

March 2024: LIV Golf ceases bid for world ranking points

In a March 2024 letter to players, LIV Golf's CEO Greg Norman informed that the league would discontinue its efforts to secure world ranking points.

2024: LIV Golf Introduces "Any Shot, Any Time" Feature

In 2024, LIV Golf introduced a feature on its streaming platform known as "Any Shot, Any Time", in partnership with Google Cloud. The feature provides broadcast coverage of all groups and allows viewers to customize the live stream and on-demand highlights to focus on specific players.

January 2025: Scott O'Neil replaces Greg Norman as CEO of LIV Golf

On 15 January 2025, Scott O'Neil was announced as the replacement for Greg Norman as CEO of LIV Golf, effective immediately.

January 2025: Fox Sports Signs Multi-Year Deal with LIV Golf

On 16 January 2025, it was announced that Fox Sports had signed a multi-year deal with LIV Golf to broadcast the tour, with coverage to be divided between Fox Sports 1 and the Fox broadcast network. The deal came after LIV Golf struggled to gain viewership in its first two seasons on The CW.

February 2025: ITV to Broadcast 2025 LIV Golf Season in the UK

In February 2025, ITV announced a deal to broadcast the 2025 LIV Golf season in the United Kingdom via their ITVX streaming platform, with selected events on ITV1 and ITV4.

March 2025: LIV Golf Announces Global Broadcasting Agreement with DAZN

In March 2025, LIV Golf announced a global broadcasting agreement with DAZN. DAZN will stream LIV Golf events via the FAST channel LIV Golf+ on the DAZN app and develop a paid subscription service, covering around 200 countries on a non-exclusive basis. DAZN had recently received an investment by the PIF. As of the 2025 season, LIV estimated that it had coverage in 120 countries, with an average global audience of 2.5 to 3.5 million per event.

August 2025: End of Greg Norman's LIV Golf contract

In August 2025, Greg Norman's contract with LIV Golf concluded, marking the end of his formal duties with the organization.

September 2025: Greg Norman steps away from LIV Golf

In September 2025, Greg Norman confirmed his complete departure from LIV Golf, concluding his four-year involvement with the league since its inception in 2021.

October 2025: LIV Golf 2026 Schedule Confirmed

In October 2025, the 2026 LIV Golf schedule was officially confirmed, featuring events in South Africa, Mexico City, and New Orleans, among other locations. This marked the league’s first return to South Africa since its 2022 invitational event and the debut of New Orleans and Mexico City as host cities.

2025: LIV Golf Schedule Announced

In 2025, the LIV Golf schedule featured 14 events across nine countries, with new stops in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Spain. The season opened in Riyadh with the tour's first-ever tournament played under lights. The team championship was held in August in Michigan, and six of the 14 events were based in the United States.