BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — LIV Golf is coming to Broken Arrow’s Cedar Ridge Country Club.

The controversial golf tour announced three new championship venues that will host tournaments as part of the 2023 LIV Golf League schedule. One of those tournaments will be held right here in Oklahoma.

Wednesday afternoon FOX23 spoke with Tournament Director Frank Billings who said LIV golf wanted to host an Oklahoma event, given that there are six golfers with Oklahoma ties.

“One of the players reached out to our Club President, Billy Lowry, who had played golf with Charles Howell III at Oklahoma State, so I think that’s how the conversation started and then it just kind of built from there,” Billings said.

He said Cedar Ridge has invested a lot of money in its golf course over the last few years, and they’re really looking forward to showcasing the venue for this set of pros coming to town.

Wednesday morning Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow officially announced they had landed the LIV Golf Tulsa Tournament May 12th- May 14th, 2023.

Mike Neal, the President and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber released a statement:

“We’re proud the Tulsa region will again be in the spotlight for professional golf this spring. We congratulate Cedar Ridge Country Club on this exciting announcement and look forward to working with them as we welcome athletes and spectators from across the globe to northeast Oklahoma.”

In a press release, LIV Golf said that local crowds will be able to see six players with Oklahoma ties in action including Oklahoman Talor Gooch, fellow former Oklahoma State University stars Eugenio Chacarra, Charles Howell III, Peter Uihlein and Matthew Wolff, and former University of Oklahoma star Abraham Ancer.

Four million dollars in prize money are at stake in just the individual competition.

Greg Norman is the CEO of LIV Golf Investments, which is mainly funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

The Saudi backed league has some golf fans leery about the announcement.

Fox23 headed over to LaFortune park to talk with local golfers about Wednesday’s announcement that the LIV Tournament is coming to Broken Arrow.

“Now do I like it? I like it for Broken Arrow,” said Harry Lowery, “I like it for the Tulsa area financially, but for golf I don’t think it’s that good a deal.”

He continued, “I don’t care for the people that are supporting them, the country supporting them, personally. But they have to go where the money is.”

There has been controversy. A group called 9/11 Justice, who object to the Saudi-funded golf league, have reportedly protested at LIV tournaments in the past.

The Saudi Arabian government has insisted it is not complicit in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are also suing each other. This news has fans FOX23 spoke with upset about the growing divide in the world of professional golf.

“I’m worried about what they’re doing to the PGA Tour, you know? So I don’t know yet if I’m going to go or not,” said golfer Lloyd Conn.

“The Khashoggi murder is a problem. So the backing, the money … they’re losing lots and lots of money running this tour. And it’s a direct threat to the PGA. And I like the traditions, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship,” said golfer Rodney Whitlatch, “All of those are being threatened by the LIV if enough players defect.”

Billings spoke about the decision to host the tournament at Cedar Ridge Country Club amidst the controversy.

“We’re really just going to focus on the event and putting the best product we can forward for our members and the community of Tulsa,” he said.

“We recognize there’s other aspects that may be out there but you know we’re not going to mind those, worry about those,” he continued. “We think it’s more important [for] us to focus on the event that is going to showcase 48 of the best players in the world.”

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