Is THIS the course that will host LIV Golf event in South Africa?
Predictably, many suggested the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City or Leopard Creek as possible options having held the Nedbank Challenge and Alfred Dunhill Championship, respectively, for decades.
Others mentioned Blair Atholl or Durban Country Club as alternatives.
However, another venue in the Cape has gained support.
Earlier this year, Filipino ports and casino billionaire, Enrique Razon, whose company won an multi-billion-rand bid to revive sub-Saharan Africa's biggest container port, bought a development that includes one of South Africa's top golf courses, Pearl Valley.
Entities associated with Razon bought Pearl Valley – a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course – and the hotel on the property in the Cape Winelands from a company controlled by shareholders that include South African businessman and Olympic swimming gold medal winner, Ryk Neethling.
Pearl Valley has consistently been ranked among South Africa's top golf courses and has previously held the South African Open, among several other Sunshine Tour and co-sanctioned events.
Razon, who chairs and is president of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and is a major supporter of the sport in his home country, has an estimated net worth of $13 billion, according to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List.
At the time of publishing he's the 202nd-richest person in the world.
Razon is reportedly dead-keen on hosting the LIV Golf event and is prepared to throw money – lots of it – at realising his dream.
LIV Golf's 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most internationally focused yet, with a schedule that includes nine tournaments outside of the United States.
According to sources who have seen the preliminary schedule, LIV Golf's 2026 season will kick off with six straight international events, a significant increase compared to the four in the opening weeks of 2025.
While the schedule has yet to be confirmed, reports are that these locations are '100 percent' confirmed, with the only expected changes being dates. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – February 5-7
– February 5-7 Adelaide, Australia – February 12-14
– February 12-14 Hong Kong – March 6-8
– March 6-8 Singapore – March 13-15
– March 13-15 South Africa – March 20-22 (first ever LIV event in South Africa)
– March 20-22 Mexico City – April 17-19
– April 17-19 Washington DC/Virginia – May 15-17
– May 15-17 South Korea – May 29-31
– May 29-31 Spain – June 5-7
– June 5-7 New Orleans – June 26-28
– June 26-28 UK – July 24-26
– July 24-26 Chicago – August 7-9
– August 7-9 Indianapolis – August 21-23
– August 21-23 Michigan – August 28-30 South African tournament
The 2026 schedule marks the first-ever LIV Golf event in South Africa. This highly anticipated addition is a win for the Stinger GC, the all-South African team consisting of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester, and Branden Grace, all of whom have long pushed for a tournament on their home soil. The venue remains unconfirmed, but the event will be a landmark moment for the tour. No Japan Event
A previously rumoured Japan event looks to have been delayed, with the 2026 schedule not including a stop. Instead, Hong Kong and Singapore will see action in March. International focus early in the season
The 2026 season would begin with six consecutive international tournaments in February and March, including notable locations like Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This marks a shift toward a truly global LIV Golf tour and presents significant international opportunities for players and sponsors alike. US leg starts late in the season
The first LIV event in the United States will not come until May 15-17 in DC/Virginia, just a week before the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. This marks a strategic move for LIV to avoid overlapping with the traditional PGA Tour schedule. No LIV Miami or Dallas
In a notable omission, the LIV Golf Miami and LIV Golf Dallas events are absent from the 2026 calendar, despite the popularity of these locations in previous seasons. Instead, the tour continues its trend of visiting new cities and countries, suggesting that LIV Golf will continue to prioritise global expansion over returning to established US venues.
If this schedule holds, LIV Golf will maintain its aggressive push to grow the sport globally, especially in emerging markets such as South Africa, South Korea, and Mexico.
The addition of a South African event will undoubtedly be a significant moment for the country's golf scene, as well as a response to the growing call for more international representation on the tour.
For LIV players, the extended international schedule provides more opportunities for travel, promotion, and securing sponsorships in regions where the tour is looking to make a lasting impact.
With high-profile locations like Riyadh and Hong Kong, LIV continues to solidify its commitment to broadening the scope of professional golf.
As the schedule remains unfinalised, LIV Golf fans and players alike are eagerly awaiting official confirmation, likely to come in the next few weeks.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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