Ian Poulter has hailed the "remarkable" progress of LIV Golf as the Englishman gears up for his homecoming event at Centurion, just over 12 months on from its inception.
LIV's first-ever event was the 2022 LIV London Invitational at Centurion Club, and the breakaway circuit is returning to the place of its birth in two weeks for the 2023 edition of the tournament. Since event No. 1 just over one year ago, a lot has happened to the breakaway and in the world of golf.
Having battled against the PGA Tour in an ugly 12-month spat, the two rival circuits appeared to have called a truce after it was confirmed they would merge with the DP World Tour to form one entity earlier this month. Following the announcement, the future of the breakaway circuit looked uncertain.
However, at the moment it is business as usual for LIV and its remaining events. After a trip to Valderrama next week, the Saudi-backed league will then head to British shores a week later.
And ahead of the return to Centurion, Majesticks GC co-captain Poulter has highlighted LIV's rise over the past year. "Thinking where we [LIV Golf] started from to now it’s pretty remarkable,” the 47-year-old said, per Wales Online.
“It was diving into the unknown. It was a completely new atmosphere, a completely new product. You go from looking at the vision to tasting it and feeling it and living it and growing with it and the experience has been incredible."
Tournament organisers will no doubt be hoping to create a similar atmosphere to the one seen at the breakaway league's first event in Australia this year, LIV Adelaide. The tournament down under attracted record crowds, who went on to create quite the atmosphere across the three rounds.
Alluding to this Poulter added: "You look back to Adelaide as a showcase event and what LIV Golf can do for an area. Adelaide is one that hasn’t had its fair share of events but look at what LIV Adelaide did to the region. From a perspective of bringing in 75,000 fans, new sponsors, a hole in one, crazy atmosphere, a great concert."
LIV London bosses are planning on creating a similar party atmosphere themselves, after confirming two headline acts will perform for fans after rounds one and two on the Friday and Saturday of the event. As a result LIV confirmed award-winning artists DJ Snake and Alesso will take to the stage after play has come to an end.
