LIV Golf has begun gearing up for its second season as the Saudi-funded breakaway launched its first advert campaign featuring its 12 team captains in a cringe-worthy TV spot.
The Saudi-backed series launched its first campaign in the buildup to the unveiling of the team rosters for its second season ahead of the opener at Mayakoba in Mexico on February 24-26.
The breakaway will announce the rosters for the 2023 season this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with four teams announced each day.
’12 Teams. You Choose.’ is LIV Golf’s first global campaign which targets fans, asking them to choose a team to support a team, seemingly in an attempt to attract a bigger, more engaged audience.
The TV advert features a young golf fan who asks the 12 team captains which team she should support.
Sergio Garcia claimed his team was the ‘best-looking’ in LIV Golf’s first campaign
The players respond in turn with their own unique pitch in a cringe-worthy game of one-upmanship to persuade the girl why she should choose their team.
Chief defector Phil Mickelson opens the pitches by simply chipping the ball within inches of the hole before turning to the camera, saying: ‘Right?’
Sergio Garcia then enters the shot with an argument that has no link to ability on the course whatsoever.
‘Woah, don’t forget about the Fireballs. They’re the most passionate, best-looking guys in the league. Case closed,’ the Spaniard claims.
The Majesticks, the only team in the league to have co-captains in Ian Poulter and ex-2023 Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson, attempt a bit of banter.
Poulter claims the team’s badge is the one that ‘everyone wants to wear’ before Stenson chimes in, ‘unlike those pants,’ referring to the Englishman’s famous colorful, plaid trousers.
Crushers team captain Bryson DeChambeau plays up his infamous ability to smash the ball down the fairway.
‘Crushers. We’re called that for a reason,’ the American says as he tees up a ball and fires off a drive.
The Majesticks’ co-captains Henrik Stension (L) and Ian Poulter (R) attempted some banter
A graphic shows the ball flight’s trajectory as traveling across the globe and DeCheambeau winces at the camera and jokes, ‘should’ve choked down on that one a little bit.’
The clip cuts to Brooks Koepka, who replicates his infamous eye roll at his rival after DeChambeau walked behind his interview at the 2021 PGA Championship.
British Open champion Cam Smith wheels out the classic ‘drives are for show, putts are for dough’ line before complimenting the hairstyle of a man in the background sporting his own distinct mullet
Once all team captains deliver their pitches, the young girl still hasn’t made up her mind to the ‘shock’ of the players.
LIV Golf finally secured a network for its rebel league, after airing its inaugural season on YouTube.
It inked a multiyear TV deal with the CW Network earlier this year, which will air LIV Golf events in 100 percent of its markets across the United States’ after striking out with other American broadcasters.
While LIV Golf will be show in the CW Channel for its second season, TV spot will feature across a range of channels.
‘Anticipation for our league launch grows by the day as our global campaign engages fans ahead of a groundbreaking year for LIV Golf,’ said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner
Brooks Koepka (right) replicated his infamous eye roll at Bryson DeChambeau (left)
Open champion Cam Smith wheeled out the ‘Drives are for show, putts are for dough’ line
‘The fans have spoken: There is excitement for team golf and for the league’s innovations that are challenging the norm in the sport. Our diversity in teams that feature elite skillsets and unique personalities will help build new rivalries and fresh ways to watch professional golf as the sport enters a new era.’
LIV Golf announced its full schedule for its second expanded season in January, which features 14 events in seven countries.
Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C. will be one of three of the former president’s courses to host the rebel series in 2023, joining his Bedminster and Miami venues, which were both part of LIV’s inaugural circuit.
The tour’s full 2023 schedule includes a return to Centurion Club, the scene of its inaugural event last June, outside London from July 7-9, as well as Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois from September 22-24. However, the circuit will not be returning to Portland, Oregon, and Boston.
The state of Florida will also play host to another event with LIV visiting Orange County National in Orlando from March 31-April 2 – just one week before The Masters, the first major of the year, which has confirmed that LIV rebels will be allowed to compete.
LIV Golf had previously announced their 2023 schedule will begin at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico – a former PGA Tour venue – from February 24-26.
It had also revealed that The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona (March 17-19), The Grange Golf Club in Australia (April 21-23), The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore (April 28-30), Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 12-14), Real Club Valderrama in Spain (June 30-July 2) and The Greenbrier in West Virginia (August 4-6) will all host tournaments.
