The LIV Golf Adelaide event has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated tournaments on the LIV golf calendar. The 2025 edition specifically is set to be the biggest LIV Golf event yet, as 90,000 tickets are already sold. With its sell-out crowds and an impressive lineup of top players, it’s no wonder that this event has established itself as a highlight of the regular season. But, what’s it like for the players who compete in this prestigious tournament? Well, the answer might surprise you.
As it turns out, the winner of the LIV Golf Adelaide event won’t be taking home the full $4 million prize money. Courtesy of Australian taxes, the champion ends up with a significantly lesser amount. Let’s take the case of 2023 winner Talor Gooch, who had a massive 47.5% of the prize money withheld as taxes. That means the winner will receive around $2.1 million, half of the full $4 million.
Gooch himself was surprised by this tax hit, and other players will likely be similarly affected. This tax withholding results from Australian tax laws, which require non-resident athletes to pay taxes on their earnings in the country. What a bummer! While this might not be a huge deal for top players like Gooch, who went on to earn around $36 million in total, it could have a bigger impact on other players who are not as financially secure. Losing out on half of the prize money as a rookie for instance can be a big blow.
This was a similar case for the 2024 winner, Brandan Steele as well. Steele’s victory was his first in the league, and it helped him earn over $6.3 million for the season. But, when you factor in the taxes withheld from his prize money, his actual take-home pay was pretty low. Well, even professional golfers can’t escape taxes it seems.
Nonetheless, the Adelaide event continues to be one of the star events of LIV Golf. However, despite its popularity and prestige, its future in Adelaide remains uncertain. With other Australian states eyeing the tournament, the question on everyone’s mind is:
Can Adelaide hold on to its LIV Golf crown?
The event nearly draws in 100,000 fans and boasts a star-studded lineup that includes Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson. In fact, last year’s event contributed $71.1 million to South Australia’s economy. The event’s success has been so remarkable that other Australian states want their turn to host it. But, the South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas is determined to keep the tournament in Adelaide, recognizing that the state has a history of losing big events to other jurisdictions.
Malinauskas has vowed to “earn the right” to keep LIV Golf Adelaide, rather than simply expecting it to stay due to its past success. He specifically credits Greg Norman’s leadership and vision, which helped bring the tournament to Adelaide in the first place. With a new four-year deal on the horizon, LIV Golf’s new CEO Scott O’Neil has also expressed his intention to keep the tournament in Adelaide, citing the city’s “extraordinary civic leadership, world-class golf course, and great hospitality.” So, are you excited for this year’s game? Let us know in the comment section below!
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