LIV Golf Announces Format Changes, Including All Final-Round Scores Counting for Teams
After two years of 48-player fields, the Saudi-backed circuit will have 54 competing this year across 13 teams plus two individuals.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — A day before the start of its third season, the LIV Golf League announced several changes to its format, including how scores will be counted as part of its team competition.
Beginning Friday at the Mayakoba Resort, LIV Golf will have three of the four team scores count for the first two rounds and all four team scores count on the final day. This is a change from last year when three scores counted for the team total each day.
Courtesy LIV Golf
Other changes were due to LIV Golf adding a new team that is being captained by Jon Rahm.
For the first two years, the format had 48 players. It will now be 54, with Rahm’s four players plus two who will compete as individuals each week. This week they are Hudson Swafford and Laurie Canter, both of whom have competed in LIV events previously.
The plan is for at least one of those individual spots to rotate at times, giving LIV some flexibility to invite new players or allow qualifying via the Asian Tour or International Series.
Other changes:
> Because of the extra six players, the individual purse of $20 million is being redistributed. The winner still gets $4 million and the player who finishes 48th—which previously was last place—will get $120,000 as before. Those finishing 49th/50th/51st get $60,000 while the last three finishers will each receive $50,000.
> The season-long individual standings will still retain a lock position for spots from 1 through 24. That means those players—through the final individual event—are assured of a spot with LIV Golf next year. Players from 25 through 48 who are no longer contracted will need to resign with their existing team or be picked up by another team. Spots 49 through 54 will be relegated out of the league (provided they are not a captain) and will need to go to LIV Golf’s Promotions event in order to return. That is up from just three relegation spots last year.
> Only those finishing in the top 24 each week earn points based on finish. In a change from the first two years, tied places will not be broken and points will be distributed as such.
> The season-ending Team Championship—the location has yet to be announced—will include just the top 12 teams, who will be seeded based on finish. The 13th and last team will not qualify.