Golfers at risk of demotion in the LIV tournament, as the final event nears.
As the 2025 LIV Golf League campaign nears its end, the stakes are high for several players as the relegation rules come into full effect.
The LIV Golf Indianapolis, the last individual event of the season, will determine the fate of those in the bottom ranks. Players finishing 49th or lower in the individual points standings after this event will be relegated from the league with no exceptions, including team captains [1][2]. This marks a change from previous seasons when captains could be exempted from relegation based on a "business case" [2].
The relegation rules were first introduced in 2023 and have been further modified during the 2024 season [3]. The aim is to strengthen the competitive integrity of the league and support its bid for inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking system [2].
Players ranked 1st to 24th ("The Lock Zone") are guaranteed their spots in the league for the next season. Those ranked 25th to 48th ("The Open Zone") face uncertainty; they might be traded or released but are not automatically relegated [1]. Players finishing 49th and below ("The Drop Zone") are relegated and can only return by winning the International Series crown (Asian Tour) or through LIV Golf promotional events [1].
Several players find themselves in precarious positions. Ian Poulter, currently in 47th place with 7.20 points, needs a top-20 finish at LIV Golf Indianapolis to retain his place in 2026 [4]. Mito Pereira, in 49th place with 5.10 points, is at risk of losing his LIV Golf career due to his current standings [4]. Henrik Stenson, in 48th place with 5.52 points, and Lee Westwood, in 47th place with 7.20 points, are also in danger of being relegated.
Notably, Anthony Kim, who is one of the wildcard players currently in 'The Drop Zone', has yet to earn a point this season. Fredrik Kjettrup, who has played in eleven events with no points, and Wade Ormsby, who has played in two events with no points, are also in danger of being relegated.
However, there are some who have shown improvement. Chieh-Po Lee, for instance, improved his standings to 45th place after finishing T13th at LIV Golf Chicago. Young-han Song, who has played in one event and has 0.33 points, and Minkyu Kim, who has played in one event with no points, may still have a chance to avoid relegation with a strong finish at LIV Golf Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, Josele Ballester signed a multi-year contract with Sergio Garcia's Fireballs team, ensuring his place in the league for the foreseeable future.
In other news, players between 25th and 48th in the standings (The Open Zone) face potential trade or release for the next term. Ollie Schniederjans, who has played in four events with no points, and Brendan Steele, in 46th place with 7.36 points, are among those who could be affected by these changes.
Luis Masaveu, who was dropped as a full-time player, has returned as a stand-in on Bubba Watson's team twice but has failed to score a point. Yubin Jang, in 53rd place with 1.28 points, and John Catlin, who has played in three events with no points, are also in the Open Zone.
As the season draws to a close, the LIV Golf League is gearing up for an exciting finish at LIV Golf Indianapolis. The event will not only determine the winners but also decide the fate of several players in the league.
[1] - Source [2] - Source [3] - Source [4] - Source [5] - Source
- In the upcoming LIV Golf Indianapolis, several players, such as Mito Pereira and Ian Poulter, are in danger of losing their positions in the league due to their current standings at 49th and 47th place, respectively.
- As the season approaches its conclusion, golf players in the 'The Drop Zone', including Anthony Kim, Fredrik Kjettrup, and Wade Ormsby, need a strong performance at LIV Golf Indianapolis to avoid relegation, given their lack of points this season.
