Ian Poulter’s Guide To LIV Golf UK By JCB

It’s always special teeing it up on home soil – and LIV Golf UK by JCB at JCB Golf and Country Club is no different.

I’ve played my fair share of events around the world, but there’s something unique about this one. Maybe it’s the venue. Maybe it’s the support. Or maybe it’s because we’ve put a pub on the golf course!

Whatever the reason, we’re all set for a brilliant week in Staffordshire.

This will be the second year LIV has come to JCB Golf and Country Club and it’s quickly become one of the most anticipated stops on the calendar.

The property is beautiful and Robin Hiseman has designed a wonderful golf course but during LIV week, everything gets turned up a notch – and that’s exactly how we like it.

For me, the best part is seeing the fans turn out in force. Last year, the crowds were incredible. We had people coming from all over the country, and they weren’t standing quietly behind the ropes, either.

They were loud, they were engaged, they were part of the show. That’s what LIV is all about.

Being part of Majesticks GC makes it even better. We’re a proper team. Lee (Westwood), Henrik (Stenson), Sam (Horsfield), and I have known each other for a number of years and are all good friends, so the chemistry is there.

We know how to push each other, how to have a laugh, and know when to deliver when it counts. And let me tell you, we’ll be doing everything we can to give the home fans a reason to create an amazing atmosphere.

Speaking of amazing atmospheres, I need to tell you about the Majesticks Arms. The pub on the 9th was a fan favourite last year and it’s back for 2025 bigger and better. We’re putting in a proper terrace this time, something a little more official than the grassy patch we had in 2024.

It’s going to feel like your local, except there’ll be world-class golf going on in the background! If you fancy a drink, a bite to eat, and a view of the 14th par-3, that’s the place to be.

As anyone who attended last year’s event can tell you, LIV Golf UK by JCB is as much a festival as it is a golf tournament – and 2025 is stepping it up another level.

You’ve got the Fan Village for families, music pumping at the range, and headline acts after play. This year, international superstar DJ Kygo is topping the bill. His set after Saturday’s round is going to be epic and the perfect way to close out day two.

All of that said, there’s still a lot of serious golf to be played. JCB Golf and Country Club is no pushover with some risk-reward holes and a few tricky island greens.

It’s a fair test and with opponents like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and LIV leader Joaquin Niemann in the field, the very best will be battling for team and individual honours.

Last year, Rahm took the title, edging out Niemann, Cameron Smith, and his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton by a single shot, so we can expect another tense contest this year!

From a player’s perspective, LIV Golf has brought something fresh to the game – and that’s important.

We’ve opened up golf to new crowds in a new format and in a new environment. You look around these events and see younger fans, more families, kids getting their first taste of the sport – and really enjoying it.

We’ve got music, we’ve got interaction, and we’ve got memories being made. That’s how the game grows.

If you’re thinking about coming down, don’t hesitate. It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore golf fan or just looking for a great day out, there’s something for you.

Kids under 12 go free with an adult, the Fan Village keeps everyone entertained, and the hospitality options are top-tier.

Personally, I can’t wait to get back out there with Majesticks GC, feed off the energy of the home crowd, and put on a show … then enjoy a drink in the Majesticks Arms!

See you in Staffordshire.

Ian Poulter