LIV Golf's Beer-Chugging 'Watering Hole' Has Strong Phoenix Open 16th Hole Vibes

LIV Golf has transformed the 12th hole at their Adelaide event into a “party hole.”

It’s impossible to replicate the WM Phoenix Open’s 16th hole Coliseum, but it seems as though LIV Golf has created a “party hole” with a similar stadium-like design and chaotic vibe at their Australia event. 

The 12th hole at The Grange Golf Club, the site of LIV’s Adelaide tournament, has been coined the “Watering Hole” this week. The par-3 is equipped with wrap-around stands as well as blasting pop music and bottomless sales of beer. 

A world-famous DJ by the name of Fisher performed a traditional Australian “shoey” on the hole after unsuccessfully offering it to Cameron Smith, the reigning British Open champion. 

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A post shared by FISHER (@followthefishtv)

Despite passing on the “shoey,” Smith praised the energy on the 12th, as well as the entire venue. 

“That was pretty cool. Fisher came out and did a shoey. Everyone was going nuts, so that was pretty funny. I probably hit the worst shot of the day there, but everyone still clapped,” Smith said.

Although the beer-cup-chucking tradition is preserved for holes-in-one at TPC Scottsdale, cans were launched from the LIV Golf stands when David Puig, a member of Torque GC, hit his tee shot to five feet. 

It's raining at the Watering Hole 🌧😂#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/NBBAOB1IVn

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 21, 2023

The rest of the field seemed equally impressed by the turnout and the “Watering Hole” energy. 

Marc Leishman, a native Australian and member of LIV's Saudi-backed tour, likened the crowds to those at major championships. 

“Probably as energetic a crowd as I've ever played in front of. That rivals being in contention at a major for sure. Obviously we're the home team, but all the yelling out at us and the support and the Leishman Lagers in the hand all around the course, yeah, it was ridiculous actually. It was really cool,” he said. 

Talor Gooch, who leads the individual competition at 10-under, managed to fire off a bogey-free round within the surrounding chaos. Gooch had the advantage of playing the 12th with calmer crowds, as it was his first hole of the day in the tournament’s shotgun start.

“We were curious because of all the buildup, all the hype, the expectations were high, right, and it lived up to it every bit, so it was a blast out there,” Gooch said. “My caddie is Australian, so we've been talking about this event since the moment we heard about it. It was a blast, and I think they're just now starting to get a feel for what LIV is, and I think this weekend is going to be a good time.”