As LIV struggles, Adelaide secures men’s Australian Open golf tournament

South Australia will host the men's Australian Open golf tournament at the North Adelaide Golf Course from 2028. (ABC News: Brant Cumming) South Australia has secured the men's Australian Open — set to be held at the soon-to-be redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course from 2028 in a spilt agreement with another state. The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty about the future of LIV Golf in Adelaide. The men's event will alternate each year with the women's Australian Open. Link copiedShareShare articleSouth Australia has secured hosting rights for the men's Australian Open golf tournament after weeks of uncertainty about the future of LIV Golf in Adelaide. The men's event will be held from 2028 at the soon-to-be redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course. It will alternate each year with the women's Australian Open, meaning there will be at least three men's and three women's Opens held in Adelaide between 2028 and 2034. The exact timing of events beyond 2028 and their split with another state is yet to be determined, Golf Australia said. The men's event has not been held in Adelaide since 1998. The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty about the future of LIV Golf. (ABC News) The South Australian government announcement on Thursday followed weeks of political pressure over the $45 million upgrade of the North Adelaide course, which is meant to host LIV Golf in 2028. LIV Golf's future is uncertain beyond this year after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its funding support, leaving LIV organisers scrambling to find new revenue sources. The doubts around LIV, which has had an Adelaide event since 2023 and was the catalyst for the government pursuing the North Adelaide course upgrade, have seen both the Greens and the Liberal Party call for a rethink on the project due to the cost and felling of hundreds of trees. Both the Greens and Liberals had called on the government to rethink the redevelopment of North Adelaide Golf Course, which includes felling 585 trees. (ABC News) Premier Peter Malinauskas, who on Wednesday declared "I don't owe LIV anything", said the Australian Open took golf in Adelaide to "a whole new level". "The renovation of the golf course stacks up even if you just look at it from a community perspective and a golf tourism perspective," he said. "But clearly, having a major event improves the economic metrics quite substantially. Peter Malinauskas says the Australian Open is the most prestigious golf tournament in the country. (ABC News) Mr Malinauskas rejected suggestions that LIV Golf potentially leaving Adelaide put the government on the backfoot in negotiations with Golf Australia. "We've been having this negotiation with Golf Australia for some time, and none of that changed as a result of the recent news," he said. Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said moving to Adelaide was about "securing the long-term future of the Australian Open" and having "certainty" about venues. He said Golf Australia remained in discussions with Victoria, which has hosted three of the last four Australian Opens. "There are rights and obligations that we have with the Victorian government; we have conversations ongoing with them about their rights to host over the coming years," Mr Sutherland said. "We certainly hope that Victoria and the famed Melbourne Sandbelt will continue to play an important part in the future of the Australian Open." James Sutherland speaks with Peter Malinauskas at Kooyonga Golf Club earlier this year. (ABC News: Che Chorley) Opposition leader Ashton Hurn said she supported attracting the Australian Open "in principle" but called for more transparency over the deal. "South Australians need to know how much money the state government is forking out," she said. "If Labor are so confident that this event is going to make a $45 million investment into the North Adelaide golf course stack up, then they should show us how." Ashton Hurn is calling for more transparency about the deal. (ABC News) Mr Malinauskas said details of the contract were commercial-in-confidence. "Obviously, we run our ruler over all of that," he said. "I'm not going to say who I think got the better end of the deal, but I think it's a good deal." Ms Hurn rejected suggestions that releasing details of the contract could jeopardise South Australia's capacity to host the event. "This is an event that is a roaming event; it has moved from state to state," she said. "I think it's reasonable that the premier, whilst not wanting to give an exact figure, could certainly give the state a ballpark." Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesJewish hospital patient 'paralysed with fear' after threatening video, royal commission hearsTopic:Royal Commissions

As LIV struggles, Adelaide secures men’s Australian Open golf tournament

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