What does LIV stand for in the new Saudi-backed pro golf invitational tour?
With the LIV Golf Tour making its inaugural appearance in London, we take a look at what the tour means and what that strange name is all about
The LIV Golf Tour has its inaugural event in London from June 9 to 11, and has managed to lure players like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Kevin Na from the PGA Tour.
This intriguing golf tour sure looks like it packs a powerful punch. So what is it? For most fans, it is all still a mystery.
Created as a start-up tour that would compete with the PGA Tour, it was commonly referred to as the “Saudi Golf League” in reference to its Saudi Arabian financial backing.
Hosting eight events during this, its inaugural season, professional golfers will not have to commit to playing a full schedule and will be paid instead on an event-by-event basis.
With $20 million set to be awarded at London, the total purse for the full eight events is set to be $225 million.
In an effort to stamp out the competition, the PGA Tour has decreed that players must choose between their events and competing in the LIV Golf events. It seems to have frightened off many big names, but a few sizeable catches have been landed by LIV Golf, with Dustin Johnson and Kevin Na resigning from the PGA Tour in order to play in London.
The “LIV” in the name is not a set of letters, but rather the Roman number 54. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Greg Norman revealed that it was a reference to the lowest score that you could shoot if you birdie every hole on a par-72 course.
Additionally, the number of holes normally played over a four-day PGA Tour event is 72, while the LIV Golf events are only three days and only 54 holes are played.
So, while the LIV Golf Tour may look like a strange name at first glance, there is actually a reason they chose it. And at least it’s catchier than the “Saudi Golf League”.