LIV Golf champion vents frustration as Greg Norman introduces changes
LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch has apologised to his fans after it was revealed his home state of Oklahoma had been taken off the breakaway circuit's schedule for 2024.
Gooch has had a season to remember in 2023, winning three times on Saudi-backed series before being crowned LIV's individual champion with a second-place finish in Jeddah last month. In doing so the former PGA Tour player became the highest earning golfer on the planet, winning £29 million across the year.
The RangeGoats star will head into 2024 with plans to defend his title, but having taken a look at LIV's plans for their second-full season, there is one gaping hole for Gooch.
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Breakaway league CEO Greg Norman and his team have made a number of changes to the 2024 schedule, one being the removal of LIV Tulsa. This means Gooch's home state of Oklahoma will be without a LIV event next year, in a disappointing switch for Gooch.
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The LIV champion addressed the omission on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that despite the breakaway league's attempts to arrange an event elsewhere in the state with Gaillardia Golf Club in Oklahoma City, but course ownersConcert Golf proved 'tough' to negotiate with. "For my Oklahoma people," Gooch wrote on social media.
"We busted our tail trying to work with @ConcertGolf to get an event at Gaillardia and they weren’t tough to work with, they were completely unreasonable. I know OKC would’ve loved the event so hopefully one day we’ll get a LIV event there for the #405."
Talor Gooch won the LIV Golf title in 2023 (BRENTON EDWARDS/AFP via Getty Images)As well as Tulsa, a number of other of 2023 hosts have also been cut from the LIV setup including Tucson, Orlando, Washington DC, Bedminster and Chicago. There was also a change to its only UK-based tournament too, with Centurion - the host course of LIV's maiden LIV London event in June 2022 - also removed for next year.
The event has since changed its name to 'LIV UK', and will take place at JCB Golf and Country Club based in Uttoxeter. The 54-hole tournament has also been moved to take place the week after the Open Championship, with the opening round starting on July 26.
With some courses being cut, there has been plenty of other new additions. For the very first time the breakaway league will venture to Las Vegas for its second event of the year in February, the same weekend as Sin City plays host to the Super Bowl at the Allegiant Stadium.
As well as this, Norman and co have also arranged to compete in Houston and Nashville for the very first time. Outside of the U.S., LIV have added Hong Kong to their roster, whilst also returning to Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Mexico and Spain.
Priding the setup on their global schedule, commissioner Norman said: "LIV Golf is the truly global golf league that the sport and its fans deserve. We’re thrilled to announce an exciting slate of events that reflects our commitment to bringing world-class players and premier competition to new and repeat markets every year.
"Launching a new league is a massive undertaking, and we’re full steam ahead building off our incredibly successful first full season in 2023. Our goal has always been to create a worldwide league that inspires progress and attracts new fans to the sport that we love. LIV Golf is stronger than ever, and next season will accomplish that goal and more.”
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