LIV Golf has had a lot of controversy with the break out tour being backed by Saudi Arabia and breaking away from the historic PGA Tour in the United States. LIV Golf wanted to change the perception of golf to attract a younger audience to it. One of these strategies is by having music playing across the cause. A bit of Tiesto whilst trying to shoot under 72? Yes please!
The music that gets played on the course are house, pop and techno music. To bring a party atmosphere onto the course, which is a complete U turn on the normal atmosphere of silent crowds.
However, as well as this they have artists perform for after round entertainment to further attract newer fans to the sport.
The list of artists that have performed at the London event in previous years have been: DJ Snake and Alesso in 2023 and Craig David, James Bay and Jessie J in 2022.
Other courses across the world have included Tiesto in Chicago, The Chainsmokers in Miami and Fisher in Adelaide.
The golfers can choose a song to play on the first tee of every tournament with notable additions including:
- Dustin Johnson: Pour some Sugar on me by Def Leppard
- Phil Mickleson: Mony Mony by Billy Idol
- Brooks Koepka: All I do is Win by DJ Khaled
- Bryson DeChambeu: The Final Countdown by Europe
However, LIV golf’s biggest signing so far and former masters champion Jon Rahm chose Monaco by Bad Bunny for his first tee shot in the competition.
He enjoys the music as he said to the mirror: “It’s definitely a little different vibe, but I quite enjoy the different vibe, but I quite enjoy the music.
“It’s not too different to how we play at home. A lot of us have – especially the people I play with, have got golf carts with some pretty powerful speakers. If anything it was low compared to what I am used to.”
AJ Dolan, Director of event production at LIV Golf said to News on 6: “Our players, listen to their music on the range, that kinda catapulted our music on course ten fold.
“Our approach is to treat it like an NBA game or a NHL game or an NFL game, where the entire course is integrated like an arena where every speaker is the same and you hear music on the first hole and you hear music on the 18th hole.”
The idea has come with some criticism in the sense that it doesn’t suit the golf etiquette. Especially PGA tours players.
The most vocal against LIV has been home favourite Rory Mclory who has said: “I think I have made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.
“My future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”
The divide in golf is incredibly strong even with the announcement of the planned merger of the two tours.
However, LIV’s introduction of music on course, concert after rounds, and first tee entrances as such have been a good edition to bring younger fans into the sport.
LIV Golf has changed the conception of the sport as by its slogan, its ‘Golf but louder’.
Photo Credit: Your Golf Travel