LIV Golf locked in ahead of proposed move to Greg Norman-designed North Adelaide course

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South Australia could host LIV Golf for another six years at least, with the state government announcing plans to invest in a revamped North Adelaide golf course, designed by Greg Norman, though the price tag remains a secret.

As part of an agreement with organisers, the government has locked in the event's future in Adelaide until 2028, securing two more tournaments beyond next year.

But the government said that, under an agreement with Greg Norman Golf Course Design, there was an option for the tournament to continue until at least 2031 at a new North Adelaide golf course, on the site of the existing one.

"We see a big opportunity in North Adelaide. Getting LIV Golf into the city unlocks yet more economic potential," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.

We'll be signing an agreement today that outlines our plans for a brand new, world-class golf course, designed by Greg Norman, on the North Adelaide site. This will give LIV Golf the option to continue until 2031.

In a statement, LIV Golf said the deal would make Adelaide the "exclusive home of LIV Golf in Australia" for the next six years, saying the tournament had "set the benchmark for delivering top-notch golf within a festival atmosphere".

"LIV Golf Adelaide is the flagship and showcases our vision for all our events worldwide," said CEO Scott O'Neil.

Since the inaugural LIV Golf tournament in Adelaide in 2023, the event has been held at Grange.

Mr Malinauskas said the government had come up with some "preliminary numbers" about the cost to taxpayers of rebuilding the North Adelaide course, but he's not willing to reveal a figure just yet.

"We'll certainly let everyone know once we get that last figure," he said.

It's a fact that the state budget for this year will have this number appearing in it, and we won't be dodging scrutiny on this matter.

This investment to upgrade the North Adelaide golf course will be a significant expense, but we're keen to do it in conjunction with the council so we can work towards reaching a mutually agreed outcome with them.

At the announcement, Greg Norman said various concept plans had already been drawn up "so there's going to be options for all of us to have a squiz at".

As a golf course designer, you rarely get the chance to work on a project in the city centre – there aren't many opportunities like that around the world. So, our job is taken very seriously.

North Adelaide Golf Club is a real gem, and we're going to take it apart and show you its best bits.

Adelaide's Lord Mayor, Jane Lomax-Smith, said the North Adelaide course is the "best-placed" in the world, because it's "within walking distance" of the city's hotels.

"This is a fantastic asset and over the years the council has looked after it and kept it going, but about 10 years ago we knew it needed a major overhaul and a heap of work was put into that, but it's been put on the backburner because, essentially, of the cost," she said.

But now, as the Premier says, we've got a chance to have a win-win situation.

While Mr Malinauskas was reluctant to reveal the cost, he said there had been "some numbers … thrown about in the public arena that I don't think are all that far off".

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"It seemed like a fortune at the time," she said.

We went through the whole plan – it was clubrooms and doing a revamp of the north course in particular. We just decided that it was a revamp that was too big.

Mr Malinauskas said LIV Golf had created substantial economic benefits for the state in the past couple of years.

"We've already seen a massive $120 million of economic activity injected into South Australia due to the success of LIV Golf Adelaide, and we're keen to keep that momentum going," he said.

He said the upgraded North Adelaide course will remain open to the public.

"If a kid grows up in South Australia today and says, 'You know what? I want to play on the course that Cameron Smith plays on', they can't do it," he said.

In 2030, they'll be able to do it.

South Australian opposition leader Vincent Tarzia gave his support to the tournament and stated that if a Liberal government were to be elected in 2026, the event would definitely be "here to stay".

"I'm really proud to say the opposition will back, in a bipartisan way, world-class events that deliver an economic benefit for South Australia," Mr Tarzia said.

Regarding the redevelopment of the North Adelaide course, he said: "We're keen to get a handle on the costs."

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"Giving money to a tyrannical government where women are forced to be under a man's authority for their entire life is not on," Mr Speirs said in 2023.