By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo by Matthew Harris/LIV Golf).
South Africa is set to welcome one of golf’s most talked about global circuits this week as LIV Golf makes its long- awaited debut on African soil at Steyn City in Johannesburg.
The four-day tournament, running from 19 to 22 March, marks the fifth stop of the 2026 LIV Golf League season and promises to blend elite competition with entertainment in a way that organisers believe will redefine the traditional golf viewing experience.
With 95 000 spectators expected over the week, and some of the biggest names in the sport teeing off, the arrival of the tour represents a significant moment for South African golf.
The league arrives in Johannesburg on the back of a dramatic finish at LIV Golf Singapore, where Bryson DeChambeau secured his fourth career LIV individual title in extraordinary fashion. The American triumphed in a tense playoff against Canadian wild card Richard T. Lee after both players finished tied at 14 under par following four rounds at Sentosa Golf Club.
DeChambeau looked to be in trouble on the first playoff hole after finding water with his tee shot. Yet he salvaged par after a composed recovery, while Lee missed a short par putt that would have forced another playoff hole. “It’s a lot of emotion right now,” DeChambeau said after the victory. “Everything you could imagine is there, but there’s also a lot of joy.”
The tournament also saw Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC secure a second consecutive team victory following their win in Hong Kong, underlining the growing competitiveness within the league’s team format.
Now the spotlight shifts to Johannesburg, where Steyn City will host the first LIV Golf tournament ever staged in Africa. Organisers expect roughly 95 000 fans to pass through the gates over the four days, with ticket demand already strong. More than 10 000 tickets reportedly sold within the first 24 hours of release, while sales have surpassed 90 000 overall.
The event is also expected to provide a notable economic boost. Tourism officials estimate the tournament could generate around R650 million in economic impact, while increased international travel linked to the event could support employment in the tourism sector.
Local interest will centre heavily on the all South African Southern Guards lineup featuring Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester. Schwartzel holds a special place in LIV history after winning the inaugural event at Centurion Club in 2022, while Burmester arrives with momentum following a top ten finish in Singapore.
The home quartet will face strong competition from several global stars including Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson.
In total, the tournament will feature 57 players competing across 13 teams, alongside five wild card entries, with a prize purse of 30 million dollars split between individual and team competitions.
Unlike traditional tournaments, LIV Golf uses a shotgun start format where all players begin simultaneously across the course each day. In Johannesburg the action will begin at 12.15 pm daily. But the organisers insist the experience will extend far beyond the fairways.
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil has described the event as a festival atmosphere rather than a conventional golf tournament. “This is quite different,” O’Neil said when discussing the event concept. “There are walk up songs, a DJ and fan zones. It’s meant to feel like a celebration rather than a quiet day on the course.”
Part of that festival atmosphere will come from a strong music lineup staged after play each day. South African superstar Black Coffee headlines Friday evening, while global DJ Calvin Harris takes the stage on Saturday. The weekend closes with a performance from local electronic favourites GoldFish. The concerts are included with daily tickets, turning the Steyn City venue into a hybrid sports and entertainment destination.
For South African fans, the tournament represents more than another stop on the LIV schedule. It is an opportunity to see the country’s top players compete at home while showcasing South Africa as a destination capable of hosting major international sporting events.
If the dramatic finish in Singapore is anything to go by, the combination of world class golf, homegrown stars and a festival style atmosphere could make LIV Golf’s African debut one of the standout stops on the 2026 calendar.