The financially struggling LIV Golf tour has asked for an extension on a payment to Kooyonga Golf Club, raising doubts over whether next year’s Adelaide event will go ahead.
Kooyonga in Adelaide’s western suburbs is scheduled to host LIV Golf Adelaide in 2027 before the tour moves to a newly redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course in 2028.
But the future of the league has been under a cloud since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would be pulling its reported billions in funding at the end of the 2026 season.
The Grange Golf Club has previously hosted the LIV event in Adelaide. (ABC News: Rory McClaren)
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was made aware last week that LIV Golf had asked for an extension on a payment to Kooyonga Golf Club.
“An extension was sought by LIV as they’re working through programming next year for those payments to be made in September,”
he said.
“That extension was granted.”
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says he is aware LIV Golf has asked for an extension. (ABC News)
Mr Malinauskas indicated there would “presumably” be enough time for Kooyonga to prepare for the March 2027 event, given the club had granted the payment extension.
The deferred payment is worth $500,000, Adelaide radio station FIVEaa reported.
In a statement, Kooyonga Golf Club confirmed it “evaluated and approved” a “short operational extension regarding its initial venue payment” to LIV Golf.
Deputy Liberal leader Josh Teague said the government needed to be more transparent about the event’s future.
SA’s deputy Liberal leader Josh Teague wants more transparency about the event’s future. (ABC News: Olivia Mason)
“Those who’ve bought tickets, those who are committing all sorts of other ways to the holding of the event are going to be left mightily disappointed … if all of a sudden LIV Golf goes from hero to zero,” he said.
“If there’s one thing you need to host successful international events, it’s confidence and it’s the capacity for everybody to get behind something because you know that it’s actually going to happen and not just be shrouded in doubt.
“That’s unfortunately where we stand right now.”
The ABC has contacted LIV Golf for comment.
The shift to North Adelaide has been controversial. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The premier has previously said the state government would need a “clear indication” from LIV Golf about the event’s future by October.
The state government has a contract with LIV Golf until 2031 and pays an undisclosed fee for the tour to host an annual event in Adelaide.
LIV Golf’s success at the Grange Golf Club was also the catalyst for the government to fund a controversial $45 million redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course.
The project has been subject to protests over the felling of 585 trees.
The government has since secured the Australian Open golf tournament to be hosted at the North Adelaide Golf Course from 2028 to 2034.
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