From the rich history of the Indy 500 to the 2024 NBA All-Star week, the Hoosier State has become a growing powerhouse for hosting national-level competitions and events. While neighboring, big-city Chicago has always loomed over Indiana, Indianapolis’s influence is rising to the occasion, with suburbs being built in every direction. With this influx in population and their growing sports culture, Indianapolis (Nap-town) is quickly becoming “America’s Sports Capital”. Indiana’s basketball culture might reign supreme, but the new variety of athletics being supported checks all the boxes. This opened the door for the LIV Golf League to plant its stake in Westfield and create a tradition that could possibly last a lifetime. 

     Golf has always been overlooked in Indiana, with access to only two courses on Golf Digest’s Top 100. With the lack of championship stages, the PGA Tour has steered clear of the market. This all changed with the introduction of LIV, however, rewiring the required steps needed to properly host professional golf events. Over the four-year history of the LIV league, they have bounced around all over the globe. For the 2025 season, LIV announced a midwestern series, with the individual and team championships taking place in the region. Not surprisingly, Chicago and Detroit were granted two of the three events, with their vast metro areas bringing in a multitude of fans. The last event announced, however, was a shock to many, including Hoosiers, as The Club at Chatham Hills, in Westfield, IN, would host the Individual Tour Championship.

     The announcement (in November of 2024) was met with excitement, and preparations quickly began to streamline transportation and entertainment in the Indy suburb. Westfield High School closed down, streets were blocked off, and parking was made available for the intended crowds. Tickets sold out quickly, with grounds and hospitality passes filling up months before the event. As the weekend hit, over fifty thousand people walked through the gates, making them the most attended event on the U.S. strand of the LIV Golf League, per Golfweek Magazine. 

     As someone who attended this event, the energy was electric, and I was shocked at the environment that was created. Mobs followed big-hitters like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, and people were lined wall-to-wall with every group. Grand Park hosted the parking, and shuttles could barely keep up with everyone piling in. Along with this, internet service on the course crashed, and the VIP bands were struggling to connect and properly operate. The signature party hole was a riot, and everyone’s hype song blared throughout the dense woods that surrounded each hole. Along with this, they had concerts from Riley Green and Jason Derulo. Throughout the different venues and vendors, there was something for everyone. As Sebastian Muñoz rolled in his winning putt, and Jon Rahm took home the season-long title, the dramatic finish led many fans wanting more.

     Overall, the tournament was definitely one for the ages and trumps any other golf experience I have witnessed. The LIV Golf Committee Members must have agreed, as they announced their return for the 2026 season, making Indianapolis the only confirmed event for the next year, per IndyStar. From the sold-out crowds to the entertainment outside of golf, LIV Golf Indianapolis was an intriguing event for any sports enthusiast. This return furthers Indy’s athletic influence and will help the city grow throughout the rest of the decade. As more events find their way to the “Crossroads of America”, Indianapolis citizens will continue “LIVing the dream.”