The latest LIV golf event is taking place this weekend at a golf course owned by Donald Trump in Bedminster, NJ, amid low crowds, T-shirt cannons and the heckling of Phil Mickelson. Every LIV event includes news on recent defections - Bubba Watson signed up last night - and plans for future events.
This week, LIV's schedule for next year came into focus, and we now have murmurings of a possible event in Ireland.
In today's Irish Independent, Brian Keogh says Greg Norman is 'determined' to bring an event to Trump's golf course in Doonbeg but mitigating factors mean the course would not be able to stage a tournament until 2024.
READ ALSO: Phil Mickelson Heckled During LIV Golf Tournament At Trump's Course
LIV Golf and Doonbeg: the stars are aligning
There is a sense of inevitability about LIV and Doonbeg.
Trump - a great friend of the Saudis and a persona non grata with the PGA since he provoked an attempt to overthrow the US government - has been one of the most vocal LIV Golf cheerleaders.
The 45th US President owns no shortage of golf courses. On top of Bedminster and Doral (which are both staging LIV Golfevents in 2022), Trump owns a number of courses in these islands, including Doonbeg as well as Aberdeen and Turnberry in Scotland
Conveniently, the West Clare course was originally designed by Norman, LIV CEO.
9 July 2002; Buddy Darby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kiawah Resort Associates (KRA), centre, shares a joke with Padraig Harrington and Greg Norman after their challenge match at the Official Opening of Doonbeg Golf Club, the course of which Norman designed. Doonbeg, Co. Clare. Picture credit; Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE *EDI*
The UK's Centurion Club hosted the inaugural LIV Golf event - the only LIV event in Europe this year - and there has been speculation about future LIV events in Europe next year.
After launching into existence with 8 tournaments this year, LIV Golf will feature 14 events on its schedule in 2023, though the locations of these events have not been confirmed.
Rather it has said in a press release that events will take place in "North America, Latin America, Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East" next year.
Sydney is expected to host a LIV tournament in April 2023, which may indeed feature Open champion Cameron Smith.
This week's press release from LIV also included mention of an "International Series" to be staged in countries like Singapore and Vietnam.
For what it's worth, the Facebook page of Trump International Doonbeg is full of promotion for this week's LIV tournament.
Conveniently, 2024 is also the year of the next US presidential election. Will we see Trump on these shores in full campaign mode? God help us all.
Meanwhile, after Day 1 of LIV Bedminster, the Four Aces lead on -11, while Patrick Reed and Henrick Stenson share the individual lead on seven under par.
