The Diputación de Vizcaya and LIV Golf have initiated discussions for Bilbao to potentially host a tournament of the Saudi league in the near future. The first contact took place this week, during the Valderrama event. A delegation from the Vizcaya council met with the circuit’s top officials in Sotogrande and put forward their candidacy. The commitment is absolute, and they have shown complete willingness to make the necessary investment.
Obviously, the presence of Jon Rahm in LIV Golf as captain of the Legion XIII team is the main reason for this bid. Many aspects of this proposal still need to be finalised, such as the course where the tournament would be played. The initial idea is to hold it at Meaztegi Golf, a course owned by the Diputación, although they are aware that significant work would be needed to adapt both the course and the facilities for an event of this magnitude. LIV Golf has committed to travelling to Vizcaya to visit Meaztegi and conduct an initial assessment. Initially, the visit is expected to take place in September.
It should be noted that the announcement of where the LIV Golf tournament in Spain will be held in 2026 is still pending. The candidacy of Madrid, which was presented at last year’s Spanish Open, as reported by Ten Golf, has not fully materialised. Initially, the date reserved for Spain in the LIV 2026 calendar is June, a time that does not convince the Madrid authorities. The ideal venue for the tournament has also not been found. The Club de Campo Villa de Madrid presents some logistical challenges. As for the possibility of another venue, it is complicated because LIV no longer pays clubs to host their tournaments, and the arrival of their events generates a significant impact.
In this regard, the Diputación de Vizcaya has even put itself forward to be the host next year, but the tight timeframe, considering the necessary works, plays against them. LIV Golf officials have told players that before the next tournament in Chicago, which will be held from August 8 to 10, they will officially announce the Spanish venue for next year. Considering that the LIV visit would be in September, it is almost certain that Bilbao will not be ready in time for 2026. It would make much more sense for it to be played for the first time in 2027. LIV is clear that Vizcaya would be a success due to Rahm’s presence. We will see how the upcoming discussions unfold.
Thus, regarding the uncertainty of where the LIV Golf Spain tournament will be in 2026, the possibility of Valderrama hosting it again is gaining traction. The club has also shown its willingness to host the event in June, a date considered even better than July from the perspective of course preparation, as well as for public attendance, an aspect in which LIV Golf is not yet completely satisfied.
