LAS VEGAS — The videoboard at Las Vegas Country Club showed 4:29 as it counted down the time to when the range would close and the LIV Golf League’s next tournament could start. In the sky, a group of parachutists floated their way to the first fairway, adding to the spectacle.
A man approached and asked, “Where do I find Jon Rahm?” He was on the second hole, not unusual, except the tournament still had not started.
LIV Golf is different — and yes, louder, but only because of audio speakers set up near tees and grandstands for a constant beat of music throughout the day.
This is the life 54 players chose when they signed up for the Saudi-funded league, some of them for enormous signing bonuses. Rahm was the most recent when the reigning Masters champion donned a black letterman’s jacket to pose with LIV CEO Greg Norman in December.
And they appear to like it — 54-hole tournaments, shotgun starts, no cuts, $20 million purses, $50,000 guaranteed for last place (down from $120,000 when the field was 48 players) and a team aspect at every event.