LIV Golf expands to Japan

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Saudi-funded LIV Golf extended its reach with the announcement Wednesday of the International Series Japan in May, which will come a week after a debut event in South Korea.

The $2-million tournament from 8 to 11 May at Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba, part of the Asian Tour’s LIV-backed International Series, is LIV’s first foray into Japan.

“There is no doubt that Japan plays a key role in the global golf ecosystem,” Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive of the Asian Tour, said.

“We are confident that this new event will not only exhibit world class golf in front of Japanese fans, but also showcase Japan to our global audience.”

LIV Golf Korea takes place on 2 to 4 May.

LIV has fractured the sport with vast pay packets and lured many top players away from the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour, LIV Golf and their Saudi backers, the Public Investment Fund, have been in protracted talks in a bid to reunite the sport.