As the dust settles on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, LIV Golf is gearing up for an intense conclusion to its season with just two events left on the calendar. The competition is heating up as Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann vie for the prestigious individual title and the $18 million bonus, while a number of others face the prospect of relegation from the league.
Introduced last year, LIV Golf’s relegation system—borrowed from the English Premier League—aims to foster a dynamic environment among its roster of players. This mechanism not only injects excitement into the league but also raises the stakes for those competing.
Understanding Relegation in LIV Golf
At the conclusion of the forthcoming LIV Golf Chicago event, which serves as the last individual contest before the season-ending team championship, players ranked below 48th in the individual standings will enter what is known as the “Drop Zone.” Those in this position will be relegated from LIV Golf for the upcoming 2025 season. To regain their status, they will need to participate in a 72-hole promotion event.
Open Zone
Players finishing between the 25th and 48th ranks at the end of their contracts will find themselves in the “Open Zone.” This status means they become free agents, without any guarantees of securing a new contract for the next season.
However, there are several exemptions in place that could protect certain players from the threat of relegation. Notably, all team captains are shielded from this fate, providing a safety net for some prominent figures who have had less than stellar performances this year.
Players and Exemptions
Phil Mickelson, a six-time major champion, enters the Chicago event ranked 44th but is secure in his position as the captain of the HyFlyers. Similarly, Henrik Stenson, the 2016 Open champion and co-captain of the Majesticks, will not face relegation despite being positioned at 41st.
Additionally, Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters winner, is relying on his role as captain of the RangeGoats to maintain his status, even though he currently ranks 52nd.
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Attention also turns to Anthony Kim, who joined LIV Golf as a wild card. Ranked 56th out of 57 players, Kim is exempt from relegation, as are fellow wild cards Hudson Swafford (55th) and Laurie Canter (51st). While they may escape relegation, it remains uncertain if LIV Golf will choose to renew their contracts once they expire.
In trouble
Conversely, players like Scott Vincent, Branden Grace, Kalle Samooja, and Kieran Vincent find themselves without any protective exemptions. They must elevate their performances at LIV Golf Chicago to avoid relegation.
As the competitive landscape of LIV Golf evolves, the implications of relegation are becoming increasingly apparent, intensifying the competition and shaping the future of the league.
