After a week of build-up LIV Golf finally kicked off its maiden event in Australia, and it is fair say the rebel circuit lived up to their 'golf but louder' motto.
After months of criticism in the United States and Europe, Greg Norman was no doubt hoping for a warmer reception from his homeland, and he got it. In typical LIV fashion, play got underway with a shot-gun start and one of the biggest crowds gathered on the fourth hole, where Aussie fan-favourite Cam Smith kicked of his week.
Smith headed into the event looking forward to it more than most, having finally got the chance to compete on the breakaway circuit on home soil.
After fans lined the fairways on Smith's opening hole, the Open champion said: "That first fairway looked pretty narrow. It seemed like everyone was on the edge of the fairway. Yeah, it was it was a pretty epic day. It was incredible."
"Every hole, the support off the tee all the way to the green. To be honest, it was pretty tiring. But no, it’s a really good day. I’m looking forward to doing this again over the weekend.” With his supporters behind him, Smith carded an opening round three-under-par 69 to leave him in a tie for 17th following day one.
The Australian finds himself seven shots off the lead though, as American star Talor Gooch lit up The Grange to shoot a career-best 10-under 62 on day one. At the other end of the leaderboard though it makes grim reading for the struggling Sihwan Kim.
The 34-year-old has endured a tough start in 2023, finishing dead last in all three of LIV's events so far. And Kim finds himself rooted to the bottom once more, after posting an 12-over-par 84 - which included a quintuple bogey 10 on the par five seventh.
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One hole everyone had their eyes on was the par-three 12th, having been transformed into a party hole and conveniently named the 'Watering Hole'. Whilst a number of LIV stars dialled their tee shots into the green, one of the biggest cheers of the day came not for the players, but instead the event entertainment.
DJ Fisher was booked by Norman and co to produce a post-round show for the LIV crowd, but even before his set the Grammy-nominated artist was already catching the eye. This came after the DJ took to the 12th fairway to perform a 'shoey', having tipped a beer into his trainer before downing it in one to the delight of the Adelaide crowd.
As well as the post-round music from Fisher, the speakers were also blasting around the 12th tee as the players were allowed to select their own 'walk out song' as they made their way onto the hole. Phil Mickelson arguably stole the show, after parading his way out to Eminem's 'Lose Yourself'.
