LIV Golf has revealed its 2025 schedule, which includes a controversial snub that will frustrate breakaway stars.
Jon Rahm and Cam Smith — two of the rebel league’s biggest names — have vocally pushed for the inclusion of a links course.
LIV stars struggled at The Open Championship last year, with five of 16 players – including Smith – missing the cut.
Bosses were begged to feature a links event in the build-up to next year’s edition of golf’s oldest Major.
But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears with a return to Valderrama, Spain, on July 11 – the week before the Open.
The 1997 Ryder Cup host is a fine course but has drawn comparisons to the scenic beauty of Augusta rather than a rugged links like Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush, which will host the 2025 Championship.
“It was really two polar opposites of golf,” Smith said to news.com.au last month.
“It was really hot [at Valderrama], and the ball was going a long way up in altitude, and then getting on to links [at Royal Troon], where it’s quite cold and windy, it’s probably not the best prep.”
The PGA Tour hosts the Genesis Scottish Open ahead of the Championship to allow its golfers to adjust to a different style of golf.
While the final LIV schedule is yet to be fully confirmed, Rahm was keen for the circuit’s Saudi Arabian chiefs to follow suit.
“I’m pushing for it,” he told Golf Digest in July.
“There’s so much that goes into adjusting to links golf, getting used to the greens and the ball reacting on the ground.
“I didn’t think about it until after [Royal Troon], but it’s undeniable how much it helps to play a links golf course the week before the Open.”
Rahm finished seventh at Portrush – eight strokes behind champion Xander Schauffele.
Smith shot a nine-over 80 to open his tournament and Bryson DeChambeau also failed to make the weekend.
Talks are currently being held in a bid to heal the wounds opened up by LIV Golf‘s breakaway.
The PGA Tour is reportedly close to a deal with Saudi Arabia‘s Public Investment Fund to end the civil war.
According to The Sun, the Saudis are set to invest $1.3billion in PGA Tour Enterprises – a new for-profit organisation created last year.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were part of a subcommittee responsible for talks with the PIF.
It is not known how the schedules would merge should a deal be struck.
But McIlroy hopes players could compete across both tours – solving the links issue for Rahm and Smith.
