BEDMINSTER, N.J. — The LIV Golf Invitational Series is getting a face lift for 2023.
As previously reported, the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced on Wednesday that it will transition to the LIV Golf League in 2023 and will feature 48 players on 12 team franchises with a 14-event schedule. While dates and locations are yet to be announced, LIV said it plans to “expand LIV Golf’s global footprint across North and Latin Americas, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe.”
In addition, LIV Golf will also expect players to compete in “numerous” International Series events on the Asian Tour, where LIV and the PIF have committed $300 million. That gives LIV players 25 playing opportunities for 2023, similar to what they’d play on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour.
Players will compete for $405 million in total prize purses and team captains will be able to make franchise decisions based on fan and sponsor interest. There are plans for promotion and relegation with the International Series.
LIV Golf has long been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to sportswash its human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.
In its first year, LIV Golf has already hosted two of its eight scheduled events for 2022, with the third set to shotgun start on Friday at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Five of the eight events are in the United States (Portland, Bedminster, Boston, Chicago and Miami) with the other three in London, Bangkok and Jeddah.
