Steyn City LIV Golf showpiece puts Joburg in global spotlight

Torrential downpours on Saturday night and wet weather on Sunday did not put a dampener on the debut LIV Golf South Africa event at Steyn City in Johannesburg, with organisers hailing the showpiece a remarkable success.

The new age golfing-come-entertainment event put the city in the spotlight, gaining global attention as over 100 000 people attended over the four days, making it the highest attended professional golf event in South African history.

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LIV Golf South Africa attracted many of the top golfers in the world, including the likes of Bryson DeChambeau (winner of the SA event from the US), Spain’s Jon Rahm Rodríguez, and SA’s Brandon Grace and Louis Oosthuizen, competing in a country team format as well as on an individual basis.

The event is backed up by an entertainment side to attract new and younger fans, with concerts at Steyn City headlined by global artists Black Coffee and Calvin Harris.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie played a key role in getting the LIV Golf event to come to SA, after attending one of its events in South Korea last year.

Steyn City is a major backer and host of the SA event, with LIV Golf organisers confirming on Sunday that next year’s event will take place from 22-25 April.

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McKenzie mentioned earlier this year that SA had signed a multi-year deal to bring the event to SA.

Johannesburg is one of several cities around the world hosting LIV Golf events this year, including the likes of Adelaide, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and Mexico City, which hosts the next event.

“LIV Golf South Africa has quickly established itself as a marquee event on our global schedule,” said Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf’s CEO.

“Our return to South Africa in 2027 is a proud moment for LIV Golf. The success of this week’s inaugural event reaffirmed what we’ve long known – South Africa is home to a vibrant golf culture, world-class talent, and fans whose passion elevates the game,” he added.

The scenes on the 18th hole #LIVGolfSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/GDb0GGiy4w

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 21, 2026

O’Neil thanked McKenzie, Southern Guards GC (the SA team), Steyn City, and other partners for bringing “the vision to life”.

Economic impact

He said it delivered real economic impact and meaningful community engagement.

SA Tourism claims that hosting the event generated an economic impact of over R800 million this year.

“The SA market has embraced LIV Golf with undeniable passion and will be a cornerstone for us for years to come,” said O’Neil.

“LIV Golf South Africa is a powerful demonstration of what our country can deliver on the global stage,” McKenzie said on Sunday.

“Hosting an event of this calibre not only showcases South Africa’s world-class sporting infrastructure, but also highlights the strength of our tourism, hospitality, and creative industries,” he added.

“This is about more than golf, it’s about economic opportunity, job creation and inspiring the next generation of South African athletes. We are proud to welcome LIV Golf back to Steyn City in 2027 as we continue to position South Africa as a premier destination for international sport and entertainment,” said McKenzie.

Steven Louw, CEO of Steyn City Properties, said: “To host the inaugural league event on African soil and take it forward to 2027 is both an honour and a milestone of real significance for Steyn City.”

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Richard Glover, general manager of Southern Guards GC, said that seeing LIV Golf come to South Africa has been incredibly special for the team.

“The energy from the fans and the atmosphere at Steyn City have shown just how passionate this country is about world-class golf,” he said.