South Australia has further cemented its status as the nation’s major events capital, with LIV Golf Adelaide delivering a record-breaking year and officially becoming the biggest golf event in Australia’s history.
More than 115,000 fans streamed through the gates across four days at The Grange Golf Club, surpassing the 112,000 who attended the 2025 Australian Open and setting a new national benchmark. Saturday alone drew a staggering 38,500 spectators, marking the largest single-day crowd in LIV Golf history and reinforcing Adelaide’s reputation as the tour’s most electric stop.
What unfolded across the weekend went far beyond sport. The tournament again transformed Adelaide into a global spectacle, filling hotels, fuelling hospitality venues and attracting visitors from across Australia and overseas. The atmosphere reached a crescendo on Sunday afternoon as Anthony Kim clinched the title, sending the packed course into celebration and capping a weekend defined by colour, noise and festival energy.
Kim’s victory carried weight well beyond the leaderboard. After stepping away from competitive golf for more than 12 years due to injuries and personal challenges, he returned to the sport in 2024 and gradually worked his way back into contention. Early performances were marked by inconsistency as he rebuilt form, but in Adelaide the comeback story reached its defining moment.
Guided by his mantra of “1% better every day”, Kim produced a performance that stunned the field, outduelling Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau in the final group. His iron play and red-hot putter proved decisive, securing his first tournament victory of any kind in nearly 16 years and delivering one of professional golf’s most improbable modern comebacks.
With a broadcast reach in the hundreds of millions worldwide, South Australia was showcased on a global stage, with buzzing grandstands and a vibrant fan village highlighting why Adelaide has become the benchmark event on the LIV calendar.
Economic impacts were felt across the state, with hotel occupancy pushing beyond 85 per cent across Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, equating to almost 10,000 rooms filled each night on average. Tourism, hospitality and events sectors all experienced a surge, supported by strong interstate and international visitation.
Since its debut in 2023, LIV Golf Adelaide has injected more than $217 million into the South Australian economy, including a record $81 million contribution last year alone. With attendance continuing to grow, this year’s impact is expected to surpass previous results.
The expanded four-day, 72-hole format combined with headline entertainment from Peking Duk, Royel Otis, John Summit and FISHER delivered a festival atmosphere rarely seen in global golf. Ripper Point returned bigger and louder, families embraced free entry for children aged 12 and under, and free public transport helped drive accessibility and attendance.
Ripper House also set a benchmark for the most sought after invite-only destination at the event, hosting celebrities, golf pros, media and VIPs.
On the course, the world’s best players including Cam Smith, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and rising Australian star Elvis Smylie delivered memorable moments that thrilled record crowds and millions watching around the world.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “LIV Golf Adelaide has delivered not just another successful tournament, but the biggest golf event in Australia’s history.”
“The event’s success demonstrates the power of South Australia’s major events strategy.”
“More than 115,000 fans turned out across four days, setting a new attendance record for LIV Golf globally and showcasing South Australia on the world stage.”
“Since 2023, this tournament has injected more than $217 million into our economy. It’s exactly why we back major events — they drive visitation, increase visitor expenditure, and support local businesses.”
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil added, “I want to thank the fans of Australia. There is something really special, almost magical, about the experience when you walk through this course. There is joy and there is respect for the game.”
“To the Grange, thank you very much, and to Kooyonga, I love passing the torch to you.”
“It’s quite a humbling experience to say yes, we broke the all-time record in the history of Australia and yes this is a place we plan on being forever.”
Momentum is already building for what comes next. Tickets for LIV Golf Adelaide 2027 are on sale from 9am ACDT today, with strong demand expected following this year’s record-breaking event. The tournament will move to Kooyonga Golf Club from March 18–21.
