2024 LIV Golf League explained

Year:2024
Tour:LIV Golf League
Regular Season:
No Of Events:14
Honor1:Individual points list
Honor2:Team champions
Honor3:Money list
Prevseason:2023
Nextseason:2025

The 2024 LIV Golf League is the third season of LIV Golf. The season consists of 54-hole tournaments, featuring 54 players and no cut, with a team championship event at the season end.

Qualification

Players who did not play in the 2023 LIV Golf League will have two opportunities to qualify for the 2024 LIV Golf League. The first is by winning the 2023 Asian Tour International Series Order of Merit. This spot was won by Andy Ogletree.

The other three spots will be claimed by the top three finishers in the 2023 LIV Golf Promotions event which will be held 8–10 December 2023 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The event will take place over three days, with 72 holes being played in total.[1] The first round will be open players finishing 6–32 in the 2023 International Series Order of Merit, winners of leading amateur tournaments, players ranked inside the top-200 of the Official World Golf Ranking and players ranked inside the top-20 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The top-20 and ties from the first round advance to the second round, where scores are reset. Also entering at this stage will be players relegated from the 2023 LIV Golf League, tournament winners during the 2022–23 PGA Tour and 2023 European Tour seasons, major champions since 2018, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players, and players finishing 2–5 on the 2023 International Series Order of Merit. The top-16 from the second round will advance to the final two rounds, with the scores being reset once again. The top three finishers over the final two rounds will earn status to play in the 2024 LIV Golf League.

On 30 November 2023, LIV Golf released the field for the promotions event. The field included more than 70 players from 23 different countries. Notable entries included 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and two-time PGA Tour winner Kyle Stanley. Also in the field were three players who were relegated from LIV Golf after the 2023 season: Sihwan Kim, Jediah Morgan, and James Piot. Laurie Canter, Kieran Vincent, and Wade Ormsby, who played in various events of the 2023 season as reserve players, were also in the field.[2] [3] The three spots were won by Kalle Samooja, Jinichiro Kozuma, and Kieran Vincent.

Broadcasting

In the United States, LIV Golf will be in the second year of a multi-year deal with The CW to broadcast and stream its tournaments.[4]

PGA Tour agreement

In June 2023, it was announced that the Public Investment Fund, the PGA Tour and the European Tour would create a new entity to serve the best interests of each entity.[5] As of 15 November 2023, terms of that agreement have not been finalized, and LIV Golf is moving forward with its plans for the 2024 LIV Golf League.

Player movements

From the end of the 2023 season until the beginning of the 2024 season saw numerous changes to team rosters.

Lock Zone contract extensions

Players who finished in the top 24, also called the Lock Zone, of the 2023 individual standings whose contracts expired after the season will be offered extensions for a minimum of one year to remain with their current teams. Players can choose to accept the contract extension or become free agents.

The following table lists players who finished in the Lock Zone and were offered contracts by their teams for 2024 and whether they accepted the contract extension or became a free agent.

Player2023 Team2023
Finish
Decision
Peter Uihlein4Aces GC12thSigned
Anirban LahiriCrushers GC13thSigned
Carlos OrtizFireballs GC15thFree agent
Richard BlandCleeks GC20thSigned
Scott VincentIron Heads GC22ndSigned

Free agents

Players who declined their contract extensions, along with those who finished in places 25–44 of the individual standings, also called the Open Zone, whose contracts expired after the season will become free agents and can negotiate with any team. Free agents are not guaranteed to be signed and may lose their playing privileges in 2024 if they are not signed. The free agency period began on 16 November 2023. The following table lists players who became free agents.

Player2023 Team2023
Finish
2024 Team
Carlos OrtizFireballs GC15thTorque GC[6] [7]
Pat Perez4Aces GC28th4Aces GC[8] [9]
David PuigTorque GC31stFireballs GC
Matt JonesRipper GC37thRipper GC[10]
Bernd WiesbergerCleeks GC41stUnsigned[11]
Graeme McDowellCleeks GC42ndSmash GC[12]

Relegated players

Players who finished in places 45 and below and are not team captains are relegated out of LIV Golf and may not be signed by another team unless they earn their way back into the 2024 season through the LIV Golf Promotions event. The following table lists players who were relegated after the 2023 season.

Player2023 Team2023
Finish
2024 Status
Jediah MorganRipper GC46thNone
James PiotHyFlyers GC47thNone
Chase KoepkaSmash GC48thNone
Sihwan KimIron Heads GC50thNone

Promoted players

Player2023 Tour(s)Qualification method2024 Team
Andy OgletreeAsian TourInternational Series Order of MeritHyFlyers GC[13]
Kalle SamoojaDP World TourLIV Golf PromotionsCleeks GC[14]
Jinichiro KozumaJapan Golf Tour, Asian TourIron Heads GC[15]
Kieran VincentAsian TourLegion XIII

Newly signed players

In addition to qualifying for the 2024 season through the International Series or via the LIV Golf Promotions event, players who have not played for LIV Golf can join the 2024 season by signing with the league or with a team.

Player2023 Tour(s)2024 Team
Jon RahmPGA Tour, DP World TourLegion XIII[16] [17]
Lucas HerbertPGA Tour, DP World TourRipper GC[18]
Cleeks GC
Legion XIII [19]
None (amateur) Legion XIII [20]

Trades

The following trades took place during the offseason before the 2024 season started:

Departures

The following players (full-time only) are no longer with LIV Golf after the conclusion of the 2023 season:

Rosters

Team Members
Captain(s) Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Substitute players
4Aces GC
Cleeks GC
Crushers GC
Fireballs GC
HyFlyers GC
Iron Heads GC
Legion XIII Ben Campbell
Majesticks GC Ben Campbell
RangeGoats GC Wade Ormsby
Ripper GC Ben Campbell
Wade Ormsby
Smash GC John Catlin
Stinger GC Wade Ormsby
Torque GC

Wild cards

New for the 2024 season were wild card players, who will compete in the individual competition without being a member of a team. On 31 January 2024, LIV Golf announced the first two wild cards who will play during the 2024 season, the first being Hudson Swafford; who will play for the entire season as a wildcard. The second wild card was Laurie Canter, who was signed to play in the first two events of the season.[21] In late February, Anthony Kim was announced as the second wild card player for the remainder of the season; Kim had last played professionally in 2012, when he retired due to injuries.[22]

Reserve players

LIV Golf maintains a roster of reserve players who are available to fill in on any team when there are injuries or other absences for tournaments. The reserve players announced for 2024 are Ben Campbell, Laurie Canter, Luis Carrera, John Catlin and Wade Ormsby.[23]

Schedule

The following table lists official events during the 2024 season.[24] [25]

Date Tournament Host country Purse (US$) Individual winner Winning team Notes
Individual Team
4 Feb Mexico 20,000,000 5,000,000 Joaquín Niemann (1) Legion XIII
10 Feb LIV Golf Las Vegas United States 20,000,000 5,000,000 Dustin Johnson (3) Smash GC
3 Mar Saudi Arabia 20,000,000 5,000,000 Joaquín Niemann (2) Crushers GC
10 Mar LIV Golf Hong Kong Hong Kong 20,000,000 5,000,000 Abraham Ancer (1) Crushers GC
7 Apr LIV Golf Miami United States 20,000,000 5,000,000 Dean Burmester (1) Legion XIII
28 Apr Australia 20,000,000 5,000,000 Brendan Steele (1) Ripper GC
5 May LIV Golf Singapore Singapore 20,000,000 5,000,000 Brooks Koepka (4) Ripper GC
9 Jun LIV Golf Houston United States 20,000,000 5,000,000 Carlos Ortiz (1) Cleeks GC
23 Jun LIV Golf Nashville United States 20,000,000 5,000,000 Tyrrell Hatton (1) Legion XIII
14 Jul LIV Golf Andalucía Spain 20,000,000 5,000,000 Sergio García (1) Fireballs GC
28 Jul England 20,000,000 5,000,000 Jon Rahm (1) Legion XIII
18 Aug United States 20,000,000 5,000,000 Brooks Koepka (5) Smash GC
15 Sep United States 20,000,000 5,000,000
22 Sep LIV Golf Team Championship Dallas United States n/a n/a Team Championship

Standings

Individual standings

The top ten in the LIV Golf individual standings as of 18 August 2024 (LIV Golf Greenbrier):

!Pos.!Name!Points
1 Jon Rahm195.17
2 Joaquín Niemann192.20
3 Tyrrell Hatton143.49
4 Sergio García135.49
5 Louis Oosthuizen129.10
6 Cameron Smith127.66
7 Brooks Koepka126.73
8 Dean Burmester95.90
9 Bryson DeChambeau93.96
10 Talor Gooch91.63

Team standings

The LIV Golf team standings as of 18 August 2024 (LIV Golf Greenbrier):

!Pos.!Name!Points
1Crushers GC176.50
2Legion XIII176.00
3Ripper GC151.00
4Smash GC131.50
5Torque GC123.00
6Fireballs GC112.83
7Stinger GC104.00
8Cleeks GC68.50
9RangeGoats GC50.50
104Aces GC38.00
11Majesticks GC26.00
12HyFlyers GC20.83
13Iron Heads GC9.33

Notes and References

  1. Coles . Matt . 17 October 2023 . How will the LIV Golf Promotions Event work? . National Club Golfer . 18 October 2023.
  2. Web site: International field announced for LIV Golf Promotions . LIV Golf . 30 November 2023 . 1 December 2023.
  3. Berhow . Josh . 10 notable pros entering LIV Golf Promotions event (including a major winner) . Golf Magazine . 30 November 2023 . 1 December 2023.
  4. News: Porter . Kyle . LIV Golf inks multi-year deal with The CW Network as Saudi-backed league lands first U.S. TV deal . . January 19, 2023 . January 22, 2023.
  5. Web site: PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf agree to stunning merger . Sky Sports . 6 June 2023 . 6 June 2023.
  6. Web site: McAllister . Mike . Ortiz signs with Torque; Puig joins Fireballs for 2024 . LIV Golf . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023.
  7. Herzig . Gabrielle . LIV Golf Has Completed Its First Inter-League Trade. Here's How It Happened . Sports Illustrated . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023.
  8. Web site: McAllister . Mike . Perez 'excited' to return to 4Aces GC lineup . LIV Golf . 22 November 2023 . 21 November 2023.
  9. Hall . Mike . Dustin Johnson Retains Pat Perez On 4 Aces LIV Golf Team . Golf Monthly . 22 November 2023 . 20 November 2023.
  10. Web site: McAllister . Mike . Jones returning to All-Aussie Ripper GC for 3rd season . LIV Golf . 11 January 2024 . 11 January 2024.
  11. Bernd Wiesberger Returns To DP World Tour After Leaving LIV Golf . Golf Monthly . Elliott . Heath . 23 November 2023 . 17 January 2024.
  12. Harig . Bob . Graeme McDowell Staying in LIV Golf With Spot on Brooks Koepka's Team . Sports Illustrated . 28 November 2023 . 28 November 2023.
  13. Web site: International Series champ Ogletree joins HyFlyers GC . LIV Golf . 18 December 2023 . 18 December 2023.
  14. Flushing It . flushingitgolf . 1744454243489026164 . Kalle Samooja, who won the LIV Golf Promotions Event, has officially signed for Cleeks GC… . 8 January 2024 . 8 January 2024.
  15. Iron Heads GC . IronHeadsGC_ . 1752686531024683280 . We've got our guy ⚒️ . 31 January 2024 . 31 January 2024.
  16. Web site: Two-time major winner Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf . LIV Golf . 8 December 2023 . 7 December 2023.
  17. News: Schlabach . Mark . Rahm 'comfortable' with LIV move, fans' backlash . ESPN . 8 December 2023 . 7 December 2023.
  18. News: Lucas Herbert joins LIV Golf and Cam Smith . Tennis World USA . Andrea . Gussoni . 17 January 2024 . 17 January 2024.
  19. News: Tyrrell Hatton joins LIV Golf in latest blow to PGA Tour . The Independent . Harry . Latham-Coyle . 30 January 2024 . 30 January 2024 . Adrian Meronk, who narrowly missed out on selection for Team Europe in Rome, has also been confirmed as a LIV recruit... Hatton is joined on Rahm’s Legion XIII team by former top amateur Caleb Surratt and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, who won his place via the LIV Golf Promotions event..
  20. News: Caleb Surratt, Tennessee golf star, turning pro with LIV Golf, Jon Rahm's team . The Tennessean . Mike . Wilson . 30 January 2024 . 30 January 2024.
  21. Web site: Meronk, Herbert headline additional roster updates . LIV Golf . 2 February 2024 . 31 January 2024.
  22. LIV Golf officially confirms Anthony Kim will play in this week's event . Golf Magazine . Kevin . Cunningham . 28 February 2024 . 28 February 2024.
  23. Web site: Reserve Players . LIV Golf . 11 June 2024.
  24. Web site: LIV Golf announces 2024 global regular-season schedule . LIV Golf . 22 November 2023 . 22 November 2023.
  25. News: Harig . Bob . LIV Golf Announces 14-Event Schedule for 2024, With Five New U.S. Venues . Sports Illustrated . 22 November 2023 . 22 November 2023.