Lavish parties and five-star perks for rebels
The Saudi-backed rebel circuit will roll out the red carpet for its players next week, with all-expenses-paid luxury awaiting competitors – and even their caddies.
Lavish parties and perks – detailed in a brochure sent to the players and seen by Telegraph Sport – outline what Greg Norman, the chief executive of LIV Golf, describes as a “first-class experience” to better the PGA and European Tours. The promise is for “a touch of LIV audacity”.
As well as a purse of $25million (£20million) for the opener in the $255million eight-event series, Dustin Johnson, who was handed $150million simply to sign up, and the other 47 players will be bathed in splendour at a five-star Hertfordshire hotel and spa.
Flights – at the front of the plane, naturally – are being put on for a hospitality-packed six-day stay for the players and their caddies, who will be hosted at a separate hotel.
The brochure also includes the hastily rearranged itinerary for the “draft party” on Tuesday after Alexandra Palace pulled out of staging the glitzy event a fortnight ago, fearing bad publicity.
It now takes place at RD Studios, a recently converted £20million facility in west London. “DJ to the stars” Fat Tony, who has previously been hired by George Michael, Andy Warhol and Madonna, will headline.
Players and caddies are invited to bring guests to the event, which will feature “cocktails, refreshments and heavy hors d’oeuvres”. Cuisine at the course, meanwhile, is overseen by Michelin-starred restaurateur Jason Atherton.
Free flights and accommodation for all competitors and caddies in the field is a rarity in golf. One
insider opined that organisers were effectively giving every player “the Tiger Woods treatment”.
The Centurion Club, where the 54-hole shotgun-start tournament takes place, has also lined up bigbudget evening entertainment. Spectators must stump up £67.55 at least for ground passes, but afteraction music acts will include James Morrison and Craig David.
As Telegraph Sport revealed on Wednesday, Johnson, the former world No1, was paid £119million by Norman amid the Saudi desperation to secure a stellar name at the 11th hour. Three months after declaring he was “fully committed” to the PGA, Johnson, 37, stunned golf with his presence in the 48-man field.
The top five in the Asian Tour International Series event concluding at Slaley Hall this weekend will also qualify. There will be a sixth name added on Monday, with speculation mounting that Phil Mickelson could be announced. Rickie Fowler is another name being rumoured.
Graeme Mcdowell is the biggest name playing at Slaley Hall and, going into the last two rounds, the 2010 US Open champion is on three under, just three behind the pacesetters, South African Justin Harding and Korean Joohyung Kim.
Mcdowell is guaranteed a place at Centurion, but how the world No346 would love to go into the Hertfordshire battle for the $4 million first prize with his first win in more than two years.
One Northern Irishman who will not be in Hemel Hempstead is Darren Clarke. The 2011 Open champion turned down the offer to become an analyst for the LIV Series, despite his manager, Chubby Chandler, saying “the three-year deal was worth lots and lots”.
However, Clarke was warned by the PGA Champions’ Tour he would be subject to disciplinary action if he signed up. “It was very tempting, because the offer was so good – if I said yes, I’d almost be ready to retire from professional golf,” Clarke told Si.com. “It was a very difficult
scenario.”