LIV Golf have confirmed tweaks for 2026 that seem aimed toward supporting the competitors’s software to obtain Official World Golf Rating factors.
LIV already had introduced it was increasing to 72 holes after 4 years of 54-hole tournaments that led to the title – LIV is the Roman quantity for 54 – of the Saudi-funded league.
On Wednesday, they confirmed extra gamers will probably be relegated from an enlarged discipline, with a rise to 11 from the six that had been relegated in 2025.
The announcement got here because the Official World Golf Rating board was assembly with subjects on the agenda, together with LIV’s software to get rating factors. It additionally got here on the identical day former Masters champion Patrick Reed introduced he was following fellow American star Brooks Koepka in leaving LIV to return to the PGA Tour.
Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Weir discusses why Brooks Koepka has been allowed to return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf beneath the brand new Returning Member Program.
“The adjustments we’re introducing for 2026 are about rewarding consistency, strengthening staff golf and creating clearer pathways for gamers to earn their place and progress inside the league,” mentioned Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf.
He mentioned the adjustments – 72 holes, increasing the sector by three gamers and the expanded factors system – can be a transparent sign that efficiency issues.
“We imagine this evolution makes LIV Golf extra aggressive, extra clear and, in the end, extra thrilling for gamers, groups and followers all over the world,” O’Neil mentioned.
LIV’s most notable change is increasing its “Lock Zone” from the highest 24 gamers to the highest 34 gamers. These are assured to be within the league the next 12 months.
Rory McIlroy has described LIV Golf’s choice to broaden its occasions to 72 holes as ‘peculiar’, with the circuit set to align itself extra with golf’s conventional excursions by shifting from three rounds to 4.
The “Open Zone” loses two spots – from the highest 48 to the highest 46 gamers who’re free to vary groups however usually are not assured being within the league.
Anybody ending past forty seventh place will probably be relegated, down from these exterior the highest 48.
“These adjustments improve the turnover and meritocratic pathways into the league, improve the aggressive pressure all through the season, mirror the elevated discipline measurement in 2026 and are designed to supply better readability round season-long efficiency benchmarks,” O’Neil mentioned.
LIV additionally will award factors to each participant within the discipline, as a substitute of simply the highest 24. Joaquin Niemann gained 5 occasions final season however completed second to Jon Rahm – who didn’t win – as a result of there have been two tournaments the place the Chilean didn’t earn factors. The factors additionally will probably be greater for the highest finishers.
Tiger Woods says Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is necessary for the sport, explaining that followers wish to see the perfect gamers competing towards one another and including that it strengthens competitors on the prime degree.
LIV beforehand introduced the whole prize fund goes as much as $30m, with the staff prize doubling to $10m. Whereas the $20m particular person purse would not change, LIV will present $2.3m at every occasion for prime performers whose groups are within the prime three.
The season begins on February 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meritocracy was a chief concern because the OWGR thought-about whether or not to incorporate LIV Golf. A majority of the gamers had been beneath contract, and the turnover proportion was far decrease than different excursions which might be a part of the OWGR system.
Whereas a vote on LIV was not believed to be a part of the agenda, there was a chance of a choice by the tip of this week.
LIV started in 2022 with 12 groups and 48 gamers. It since has expanded to 13 groups and 5 gamers who’re unattached and earned their manner by means of a qualifying occasion and the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Collection.
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