What to know as LIV Golf makes its Central Indiana debut
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Bryson DeChambeau is one of the players competing in LIV Golf Indianapolis this weekend. Photo: Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LIV Golf is bringing its championship tournament to Westfield this weekend.
Why it matters: This is the first time the well-funded and fast-growing golf tour will set up shop in Central Indiana, and tens of thousands of spectators are expected to attend.
- LIV has attracted controversy since it launched in 2022, partly because it is funded by the Saudi government.
Catch up quick: Critics argue that Saudi Arabia is funding the golf tour to "sportswash" its global image, Axios' Tasha Tsiaperas reports.
- The PGA Tour initially criticized the tour over human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia and suspended players who took part in the inaugural LIV tournament.
- The two groups shocked the golf world and announced plans to merge in 2023. But those plans have since stalled and seem no closer to reaching resolution.
Driving the news: LIV Golf Indianapolis tees off Friday through Sunday at The Club at Chatham Hills to close out its regular season.
- Top players like Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson are part of the action.
- The three-day event will also feature an immersive fan village with activities for all ages, and a two-night concert headlined by Riley Green on Friday and Jason Derulo on Saturday.
How it works: LIV tournaments are shorter than PGA events, taking three days instead of four.
- LIV tournaments have fewer golfers (54) who play all weekend regardless of performance, while a typical PGA tournament has more than 100 players who are cut based on score.
- Everyone starts playing at once, instead of having staggered tee times as in the PGA.
State of play: The LIV hype is hitting Indy as golfing in the U.S. skews younger.
- Millennials expect to spend about $4,557 this year on golf gear and expenses like course fees, club memberships, travel and lessons, according to a new survey from Censuswide and Whatnot.
- That's $693 more than Gen X and $1,798 more than Boomers.
- Data from the National Golf Foundation finds that more than half (57%) of on-course golfers are now under the age of 50, and the number of junior golfers (ages 6–17) has risen 48% since 2019.
If you go: The tournament tees off at 12:05pm Friday, 11:05am Saturday and 10:05am Sunday.
- Gates open at 10am Friday, 9am Saturday and 8am Sunday.
- One-day tickets start at $55. A three-day pass starts at $136.
- Kids 12 and under get free grounds admission.