I attended LIV Golf at JCB this weekend and here’s the truth about it

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With LIV Golf still such a new phenomenon on the golfing landscape, it is still true to say that only a small fraction of the sport’s fan base have attended an event in person.

Some have stayed away in protest, others seemingly just have very little interest in matters on the goings on away from the PGA Tour.

However, with English fans starved of genuinely elite golf on the calendar, LIV Golf’s event proved to be a roaring success – in terms of ticket sales at least.

All three days of LIV’s tournament at JCB sold out, with over 45,000 fans making their way to Uttoxeter to attend the event.

Bryson DeChambeau has urged fans to attend LIV before judging, so we took on the US Open winner’s advice and did just that. And here’s the truth about the tournament.

The JCB Course

The course itself was well set-up, especially considering this was the first major tournament held at the property.

JCB’s access is usually restricted to those who work for the company and guests, making it a difficult course for the public to play on.

It has made a name for itself on YouTube golf, with the likes of Good Good and Rick Shiels both filming around there, and it is likely that the course selection helped sell tickets, with plenty of people we spoke to attending simply because they wanted to see what JCB was like for themselves.

The course itself has some visually stunning holes – with the 240 yard, down-hill par three 17th particularly eye-catching.

However, on that hole in particular, the viewing experience for spectators is poor, with no green side views and only one grandstand positioned behind the tee box.

That was a problem not exclusive to the 17th either. The course isn’t the greatest viewing experience for spectators, and in those places where the action is easily watched, it becomes very crowded.

There are some genuinely great holes, such as the drivable par four eighth, but Tyrrell Hatton has complained about the 18th and many just don’t feel challenging enough for golfers of this calibre.

That problem, of course, is not one that is exclusive to LIV – with the PGA Tour also often having weeks which turn into birdie-fests – but it did feel as if there wasn’t enough true danger out there.

What were the crowds at LIV like?

This was where we saw the biggest difference between those attending LIV and those visiting at PGA event.

With cheap tickets generally available, it felt as if many of those in attendance were not actually golf fans and simply wanted a day out with their friends.

The Majesticks Arms, a pub set up at the back of the ninth hole, was well populated all weekend – but also became very rowdy, with many more seemingly more interested in their pints than the action in front of them.

Bryson DeChambeau did get a rousing reception, but otherwise the atmosphere was pretty flat, with inane shouts such as ‘I love tractors’ more commonly heard than anything towards the golfers.

LIV – Golf but louder?

LIV like to advertise themselves with this slogan, but in truth the music playing did little to add to the atmosphere.

It is audible all the way around the course, but it is hardly off putting.

Indeed, after a while of getting used to having it playing, it becomes more like background noise than an atmosphere enhancer.

It should be said that on the party hole, which was the 14th at JCB, the tunes are pumped up far louder and the atmosphere reflected that.

But, honestly, the music did little to detract or enhance the experience – it was merely there.

Will we be re-attending?

Probably. As a fan experience it’s hardly the greatest sporting day on the calendar and it feels like an exhibition rather than a hugely dramatic event.

However, the value for money is unquestionably impressive, with all general sale tickets available for under £25 (33USD). It’s a more than fair price to pay to see the likes of DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson up close.

Whether LIV will ever be able to create the required tension to make their events seem like they actually matter remains to be seen.

But the ample billboards on the walk to JCB are eye-catching and they were well prepared with food, drinks and plenty of activities readily available all over the course.

For a tour that is only two years old it was actually quite impressively planned, but there are improvements to be made and there’s no doubt that, at the moment, the experience as a spectator remains inferior to most weeks on the PGA Tour or at a major championship.