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Branding itself as "Golf, But Louder", LIV certainly appears a
perfect fit for Miami with non-stop music providing a thumping
soundtrack to the Saudi-backed venture's season finale that will
decide the first team champion.
A quick sampling of spectators found few knew the golfers and
even fewer the format or the teams like Punch GC, Cleeks, Smash
and Majesticks who all advanced out of Friday's quarter-finals.
The winners of Saturday's semi-finals will face off for the $16
million winner's prize on Sunday.
Such details seemed unimportant for a largely younger crowd that
did know Donald Trump and how to spot a fun time.
The scene was far more relaxed than what spectators and golfers
experience at most PGA Tour stops.
You will not see marshals at LIV events holding up "Quiet
Please" signs when players are ready to tee off or putt.
Golfers lining up putts on the ninth and 18th greens on Friday
did so with music pounding from a wall of speakers on the main
stage just a chip shot away.
Teeing off at the first and 10th also offered up unusual
challenges with the tee boxes surrounded by open bars.
"It's good, it's fantastic, we love it, the fans love it," said
Majesticks captain Ian Poulter. "We always hit balls with music
playing anyway.
"It's a really good vibe, it's a good vibe for us and good vibe
for the fans.
"They (LIV events) are all the same, we have music playing at
every single event."
LIV does not provide attendance figures but the crowd appeared
slightly larger than what the average LPGA event might pull in.
While it is LIV Golf's grand finale, it is having to share the
Miami spotlight with Trump, whose supporters are everywhere at
gold gilded Doral.
Many seemed more excited about catching a glimpse of the
former-president than two of LIV Golf's biggest attractions in
six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, captain of Hy Flyers and
Punch GC leader Australian Cameron Smith, the reigning Open
champion.
Mickelson and Smith lived up to their top billing in an
entertaining match that came down to the final holes decided
when the Australian drained a 10-footer at the 17th for a 1-up
win to put his team through to the semi-finals.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Miami. Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
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