LIV Golf is the first professional competition to try to compete with the PGA Tour since the European Tour was founded back in 1972.
There has been a strategic alliance between the European Tour and PGA Tour ever since with that bond growing ever stronger each year.
But golf the past few decades has seen the sport become even more global with the European Tour turning into the DP World Tour with more events held outside of the continent.
The Ras Al Khaimah Championship is one of the latest tournaments to be added to the DP World Tour's schedule, making its debut in 2022.
Held at the Al Hamra Golf Club, the event features on the Middle East swing of the DP World Tour and holds the spot after the popular Dubai Desert Classic on the schedule.
The star-studded field featuring the likes of Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young and Tommy Fleetwood among others had moved on back to America, but a decent field still teed up at Al Hamra.
The Ras Al Khaimah Championship is growing in popularity
GETTY
Household names such as Padraig Harrington, Rasmus Hojgaard, Alex Fitzpatrick and Thomas Bjorn were in the field while all 20 Challenge Tour graduates featured.
Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority told GB News: "Each year, the course attracts some of the world’s best players who participate in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, now in its third year.
"The world-class, 18-hole championship course at Al Hamra Golf Club is conveniently located within a walking distance of five resorts, which is ideal for those visiting Ras Al Khaimah for a golf holiday, offering unparalleled access to luxurious accommodation options right at the heart of the action."
While not being regarded as one of the big events on the DP World Tour, the Ras Al Khaimah Championship still showcases the sport at its best and there's plenty LIV Golf can learn from the event as a whole.
Golfers grinding
Where LIV Golf continues to falter in attracting fans of the sport is the seeming lack of competitiveness in their events.
The Ras Al Khaimah Championship represents the kind of event on the DP World Tour where golfers young and old are grinding to work their way up the tiers.
Eventual winner Thorbjorn Olesen has been at the very top of the sport having spent years on the PGA Tour but was being chased by the next generation led by Rasmus Hojgaard.
Manuel Elvira was one of the many rookies in the field who enjoyed a strong week as he finished tied-23rd after equalling the course record in the second round.
It's these kinds of events on the DP World Tour that incapsulate professional golf and the journey players go on to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
LIV Golf currently doesn't have that same feel to it and it's where events like the Ras Al Khaimah Championship still stand above their tour.
Free entry
Another perk of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship is the fact it was free entry for the whole week.
Golf is forever trying to grow the game around the world and reaching new corners and a new audience helps the sport as a whole.
Thorbjorn Olesen won the event by six shots
GETTY
LIV Golf is starting to do similar this year with events in Jeddah and Hong Kong coming up next month, but a grounds pass for the whole week at the latter event will cost over £100.
It's never going to get thousands of fans descending on Al Hamra but making it free gives everybody in the region a chance to take in competitive golf in a beautiful climate.
In a world where finding things to do for free are few and far between, that can't be sniffed at.
Focus purely on the golf and nothing else
Golf in the purist form remains about getting from A to B in the fewest shots possible and the ability to get up close and personal to professional players.
LIV Golf events still seem chaotic and too noisy for fans to stay focused on the sport.
The field featured 132 players including Padraig Harrington
GETTY
At the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, it was almost serene in spending four-plus hours out in the Middle Eastern sunshine and the only noise that could be heard was either the ping of a driver off the tee box or clapping from the spectators around a green.
So quiet and peaceful was the event at times that it was easy to listen in on the interesting conversations between caddies and players on how they should approach each hole.
LIV Golf is trying to attract a new audience to the sport and that could be seen as a good thing.
But don't ignore the purists who enjoy the serenity that golf has to offer at its best.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
- Phil Taylor makes feelings clear on Luke Littler's future as darts star dazzles - 'I say this in all honesty'
- Rory McIlroy given death stare by Genesis Invitational rival after breaking golf etiquette rules
- Geri Halliwell 'being supported by all of the Spice Girls' amid probe into husband Christian Horner
Golf fans could watch the whole event for free at Al Hamra
GETTY
Much bigger fields
Where LIV Golf arguably falters most is the sheer lack of numbers for each event.
The Ras Al Khaimah Championship featured a 132-player field while just 54 players have lined up for LIV Golf's first two events this year.
Even after the cut in Ras Al Khaimah, 78 players made it through to the weekend giving fans plenty of options on who to follow.
Three-time major winner Harrington was among those to make it through to the weekend while rising stars Tom McKibbin (tied-16th) and Jayden Schaper (tied-23rd) also enjoyed strong performances.
It makes a win at such an event feel that bit more special with so many top-class players in the field and that was evident when Olesen was handed the trophy on Sunday evening.
