What comes to your mind when you hear LIV Golf? No cut and 3-day game? Attempts to elevate fan experience? aims to shake up the traditional golf landscape?  But has anything related to safety ever crossed your mind? Certainly not, especially for fans who have only watched the event on television. But what’s it like to experience a LIV event firsthand? So, are the LIV Golf events unsecured to attend? No, not really! That’s exactly what one well-known golf YouTuber discovered when they attended a recent tournament at LIV Golf UK. 

Famous golf YouTuber Rick Shiels recently attended the event and shared his unfiltered thoughts on the experience in a podcast episode titled We went to LIV Golf (the positives and the negatives!)! Shiels was struck by the enthusiastic crowd, saying, “At the Open, I am very lucky… I get spotted, I get people coming for pictures, and it’s fairly frequently but manageable. At LIV, I left the putting green to go to the 14th, and I pretty much got mobbed—like genuinely mobbed—because the audience is so much younger.” This enthusiasm, however, also raised safety concerns. He admitted, “I was somewhat scared for my own safety.”

Despite this, he enjoyed the event at the JCB golf course, finding the atmosphere “very, very, very good.” He appreciated the flexibility of the event, where attendees could choose their experience. “If you want music, if you want a party, and you want loud cheering and energy, there are spots on the golf course where you can get that… If you wanted to go and experience a more subdued LIV event, you could also do that.”

Shiels’ comparison highlights the unique aspects of LIV Golf. Unlike traditional events, LIV offers a range of experiences, from lively to subdued. He noted, “You can get that [party atmosphere] at the 14th hole, where the party hole is… In between groups, you had a comparison coming out and getting the crowd going, and singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ and singing ‘Hey Jude’ and all these things.” Conversely, quieter areas like the 6th hole offered a more traditional golf experience.

Overall, Rick Shiels suggests that LIV Golf has successfully created a distinct and engaging atmosphere, appealing to a younger demographic. Golf has always been the kind of sport that has attracted a somewhat older audience, but now that is changing, with the internet coming into the picture. To capture the young audience, even the PGA Tour has introduced a new influencer-centric event, Creator Classic that will take place on Wednesday of the TOUR Championship.

As per the YouTuber’s safety concerns could need addressing, overall, the event’s flexibility and energy make it an exciting addition to the golf landscape. Almost everything he mentioned differs from the PGA Tour events. Here are some more comparisons that Rick Shiels pointed out.

Rick Shiels’ explores a new perspective on Greg Norman’s league’s fan experience

Rick Shiels highlights the distinct fan experience at LIV Golf, contrasting it with traditional events like the Open. He notes that LIV Golf’s shotgun start, where gates open at noon, offers a unique opportunity to see top players warm up and guarantees a 100% chance of spotting stars like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson. 

“If you want to see the players warm up before the round, they’re all there if you want to definitely guarantee seeing Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau. You will get definitely 100% chance see those players. Can’t always say that at the Open. Certainly, if you go on a Saturday or Sunday.” The atmosphere at LIV Golf is also distinct, with Rick Shiels describing it as “so different to the Open.”

While the online viewing experience may still be a work in progress, the live experience on the golf course is unparalleled, offering an intimate and dynamic experience for fans. What’s your take on his experience? Share with us in the comments section below.