South African Minister Shares 42-Ticket Request Amid Growing LIV Golf Buzz

LIV Golf's first event in Africa drew around 90,000 fans, one of the league's highest attendance numbers.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:04pm

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The South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, revealed that he received a call from someone requesting 42 tickets to the LIV Golf event in South Africa, just four hours before the tournament began. This highlights the growing demand for LIV Golf events, as the inaugural tournament in the country drew around 90,000 fans, making it one of the most attended events in the league's history.

Why it matters

The high demand for LIV Golf tickets in South Africa showcases the league's growing popularity and its ability to attract large crowds, even in its first event on the African continent. This could have significant implications for the future of the sport and the ongoing rivalry between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

The details

LIV Golf sold around 90,000 tickets for its first event in Africa, held at The Club at Steyn City near Johannesburg. The organizers built a temporary stadium called The Lion's Den around the par-3 17th hole, creating a fun 'party hole' like at other LIV events. Louis Oosthuizen, captain of the all-South African Southern Guards team, said he did not expect the event to grow this fast, with the tournament expected to generate close to $60 million for the local economy.

  • On March 22, 2026, LIV Golf shared a video on X announcing that tickets for its 2027 South Africa event were now on sale.
  • Just four hours before the tournament began, the South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, received a call from someone requesting 42 LIV Golf tickets.
  • The LIV Golf event in South Africa took place in 2027.

The players

Gayton McKenzie

The South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture who received late-night calls from people trying to get LIV Golf tickets.

Louis Oosthuizen

The captain of the all-South African Southern Guards team who said he did not expect the LIV Golf event in South Africa to grow this fast.

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What they’re saying

“Last night, people are calling me, 'Listen, can you not make a plan for a ticket?' I said, 'Yeah, how many do you need?' He says, 'I need 42.' I'm like, '42?'”

— Gayton McKenzie, South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture

“Realistically, we were thinking of getting it hopefully in '28, maybe in '27, but yeah, we had some great support from the minister and from Steyn City and from everyone.”

— Louis Oosthuizen, Captain of the all-South African Southern Guards team

What’s next

The minister announced that LIV Golf will be returning to South Africa on April 25, 2028, stating that the country is becoming the 'headquarters of LIV Golf'.

The takeaway

The high demand for LIV Golf tickets in South Africa, with one person requesting 42 tickets just hours before the event, highlights the league's growing popularity and its ability to attract large crowds, even in its first event on the African continent. This could have significant implications for the future of the sport and the ongoing rivalry between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.