‘I visited LIV Golf UK Party Hole as Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter at centre of booze and boos’
Having originated at LIV Golf Adelaide, the breakaway league’s Party Hole made its way to LIV UK this week, and it painted as good a picture as any as to what to expect from the breakaway league

‘Hips Don’t Lie’ by Shakira is not what you usually expect to hear when making your way onto a grand stand at a golf tournament, but LIV Golf UK is not just any normal event.

The breakaway league made its annual pit stop on British soil this week, two years on from its inception at Centurion Golf Club. Much has changed since, including its UK home, with Greg Norman and co setting up camp at the ultra-exclusive JCB Golf and Country Club for 2024.

‘Golf But Louder’ is the Saudi-backed circuit’s motto, and it certainly lived up to its name during Sunday’s final round, with the usually tranquil Staffordshire countryside woken up by a whole host of rowdy golf fans. Most had set up camp at JCB’s Party Hole, situated on the par-three 14th.

READ MORE: Phil Mickelson sends message to critics and issues warning to his LIV Golf rivals
EXCLUSIVE: LIV Golf getting ‘better and stronger’ as breakaway league shows sign of intent amid PGA Tour talks

And it was party by name, party by nature as a tee-side DJ attempted to ramp up the atmosphere for those watching on. Both the tee box and green had hospitality tents and grand stands wrapped around them, with the large majority in attendance gripping hold of some sort of alcoholic beverage.

When I arrived onto the tee, one fan had become the star of the show between groups as he made his way over one of the crossing points with a pint of beer in his hand. As cheers of ‘jug, jug, jug!’ were cried out from the stands, the spectator in question obliged, downing his drink before receiving a cheer worthy of a winning putt on championship Sunday.

Promoted Stories
The next group on the tee saw somewhat of a Ryder Cup re-run, as home favourite Ian Poulter was joined by his former European teammate in Graeme McDowell, as well as their great American rival Patrick Reed. Reed has often been golf’s pantomime villain, especially on European soil and he re-took this role at JCB.

After the on-hole announcer told those waiting that Poulter’s group were just tidying up their putts on the 13th, there was still time for one more song. You guessed it, Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’. After the ‘so good’ chants were over, it was finally time for some golf.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

Boozed-up fans enjoyed the golf (
Image:
2024 LIV Golf)
First on the tee was Poulter, who was offered a hero’s welcome by the punters. The same could not be said for Reed though. Under the playing of ‘Mr Brightside’ a handful of boos were heard as ‘Captain America’ made his way onto the stadium-built tee, and they were far from over.

After McDowell stuck his tee shot onto the green to Liam Gallagher’s Mancunian tones of Supersonic, it was now the turn of Reed. Sadly my music knowledge did not stretch far enough to know what song he had opted to hit his attempt into the green, but that did not matter, when a second rendition of boos greeted the announcement of his name, muting out the speakers.

Remember the pantomime villain claim? Well the former PGA Tour star dually obliged, encouraging the jeers and the noise before stepping over his ball. A safe effort to the left of the green followed before it was the turn of Poulter. It is fair to say the Englishman has failed to find his best form since making the Saudi switch, but he almost had his greatest LIV moment yet on Sunday at 14.

With Eminem pounding from the DJ area, Poulter’s tee shot looked as good as any all week in the air, and he was denied a Party Hole hole-in-one by the barest of margins after his effort finished less than two-feet wide of the pin. If you closed your eyes you could envision yourself either stood on the terraces on a Saturday afternoon or at sat on a table at the Alexander Palace as cries of ‘there’s only one Ian Poulter’ rang out whilst he made his way to the green.

Over on the putting surface the boozy atmosphere continued, and once again the Ryder Cup-style feel kicked in. As Reed’s lengthy putt for birdie rolled by, a bunch of jeers rang out from the home crowd. One of the biggest cheers of the day then followed, as Poulter tapped in for birdie – one he enjoyed.

There is no doubt LIV Golf is of course not everybody’s cup of tea. Having spent the whole of last week watching alongside the sport’s purists at Royal Troon for The Open Championship, the two could not be further away from each other when it comes to spectator experiences.

The traditional golf product though is something LIV has no plans of replicating, as evident as ever with their choice of marshal signage which ironically read ‘shhh’ rather than the usual ‘quiet please’. And whilst booming music and boozy grand stands is not your usual par-three setup, a packed-out Party Hole at JCB tells you everything you need to know about what the modern golf fan wants to see.