[Photo: LIV Golf]

LIV Golf Adelaide is officially back on top – just ask South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas.

After the Crown Australian Open briefly claimed bragging rights in 2025 thanks to Rory McIlroy headlining a star-studded week at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the South Australian showpiece has reclaimed its mantle as the most attended golf event in the nation’s history.

RELATED: Anthony Kim completes unlikely comeback with emphatic victory as Ripper GC goes back-to-back

Midway through a thrilling final day’s play that saw Anthony Kim pull of one of the most remarkable comebacks in sport, Malinauskas was quick to confirm this year’s edition – the last to be staged at Grange Golf Club – drew more than 115,000 fans across tournament week.

“LIV Golf Adelaide is now the biggest golf event Australia has ever seen,” Malinauskas revealed.

“This year’s event drew more than 115,000 fans across the week. That’s the highest attendance of any golf event in the nation – and the largest crowd for a LIV Golf tournament anywhere in the world.”

LIV Golf Adelaide is now the biggest golf event Australia has ever seen.

This year’s event drew more than 115,000 fans across the week.

That’s the highest attendance of any golf event in the nation – and the largest crowd for a LIV Golf tournament anywhere in the world. pic.twitter.com/v7zpu7czTB

— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) February 15, 2026

The figure eclipses the 112,698 who flocked to Royal Melbourne late last year when McIlroy’s Masters glow and career grand slam status delivered record gates for the Australian Open. That total had edged past LIV Adelaide’s 102,000 total in 2025 – but only temporarily.

LIV Golf Adelaide’s switch to four days and 72 holes (from its original 3-day, 54-hole format) and a Sunday surge that included the marquee pairing of Kim, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, has restored LIV’s Aussie stopover to the top of the all-time attendance charts.

Malinauskas expanded further in a statement released at the conclusion of the tournament: “This attendance sets a new record that everyone in South Australia and sports fans around the country can be very proud of. This a showcase of not just world-class golf, but of South Australia.

“I take the opportunity to thank The Grange Golf Club and all their members. You have been our host and you’ve been very generous ones at that.

“In terms of the partnership with LIV Golf, it goes from strength to strength. We’re exceptionally optimistic about the future and you can see why.”

Saturday’s play welcomed 38,500 patrons, the highest-single day figure in LIV Golf history, leaving its chief executive officer Scott O’Neil in a jovial mood.

“I want to thank the fans of Australia,” said O’Neil. “There is something really special, almost magical, about the experience when you walk through this course. There is joy and there is respect for the game.

“To the Grange, thank you very much, and to Kooyonga, I love passing the torch to you.

“It’s quite a humbling experience to say yes, we broke the all-time record in the history of Australia and yes this is a place we plan on being forever.”

Yet for all the noise around crowd records, Adelaide very nearly didn’t get its fairytale finish. Kim revealed late last week he was in danger of missing the event altogether due to visa complications – a subplot that only added to the theatre of his remarkable comeback triumph on Sunday.

1st week @livgolf_league in the books & was excited 4 AUSTRALIA but looks like I need an assistant cuz didn’t apply 4 visa🤦‍♂️ so the charter is leaving w out me😂
💩 happens but at least I’m still sober👊
Maybe I should document this on my YouTube channel- Realanthonykim
1% BETTER pic.twitter.com/3YiY6IjBtF

— Anthony Kim (@AnthonyKim_Golf) February 7, 2026

NO answer on visa yet bcuz it’s Sunday in AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 but very hopeful 2 get an answer by Monday so I can play at 1 of my favorite stops @livgolf_league
@ least I get 2 eat whatever I want 4 breakfast
1% BETTER
SOBER is DOPE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wccFrRIexn

— Anthony Kim (@AnthonyKim_Golf) February 8, 2026

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Kim couldn’t resist leaning into the irony when asked if he might return to Australia later this year for the Crown Australian Open.

“If I can get a visa,” he quipped.

“Yeah, no, I’ve got one now. So yeah, we’ll see what happens.”

The Australian Open now offers a ticket to the Masters for its champion – a huge carrot for international players outside the world’s Top 50. But for Kim, first thing’s first: taking this week in with family and friends.

“Golf is very important to me. It’s obviously my focus right now. But at the same time, I want to do what’s best for my family. I want to take my time and enjoy these moments. That’s why I was out there on the green with my daughter and my wife, because I didn’t do this by myself.

“There’s people very important in my life that have helped me get here and have supported me, and without anything in return. This is for all of them. I want to enjoy the moment, but also, I’ll be back on the grind soon.”

If that grind includes an end-of-year trip to Kingston Heath, Aussie Open fans might not just have reclaimed the attendance crown – they will be welcoming back one of golf’s most compelling comeback stories for an encore.