Westwood Revives Foster in Bid to Repel LIV Golf Demotion Attempt
Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, and Ian Poulter Face Uncertain Future in LIV Golf
In the current LIV Golf individual standings, Lee Westwood finds himself in a precarious position, sitting in 46th place. His co-captains, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter, are not far behind, with Stenson in 47th and Poulter in 51st. These standings could have significant implications for the three golfers, as the 2024 LIV Golf relegation rules state that players finishing 49th or lower in the season-long points standings will be relegated from the league.
Unlike previous seasons, team captains are no longer exempt from relegation, meaning even captains finishing in the Drop Zone (positions 49 and below) will be relegated without reprieve. This stricter policy is aimed at earning world ranking point accreditation by tightening relegation criteria, essentially removing the "business case" exemptions that previously allowed captains or players finishing in the drop zone to stay with their teams.
If relegated, Westwood, Stenson, and Poulter would need to qualify back through winning on the Asian Tour’s International Series or via special LIV invites. Additionally, should any of them be relegated, they would face penalties returning to other tours.
In a recent turn of events, Westwood has reunited with his former caddie, Billy Foster, for the final two individual events of the LIV Golf season. Foster, who is currently in semi-retirement, will caddie for Westwood at the upcoming LIV Golf events in Chicago and Indianapolis. Westwood and Foster had a successful partnership between 2009-2018, during which Westwood rose to World No.1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Westwood won 13 times with Foster on the bag, and finished in the top three in eight Majors during their time together.
Meanwhile, Poulter, who is already in the drop zone, faces relegation if he doesn't improve his ranking. Should any of them be relegated, it will mean losing their guaranteed LIV Golf spots and facing fines if they try to return to the DP World Tour after resigning membership there.
The Majesticks, Westwood's team, announced the reunion on social media. Foster wrote on Instagram, "Great to be back with the old dawg for a couple of weeks. LIVing the dream!" This marks Foster's debut in LIV Golf caddying. Westwood's usual caddie is his wife Helen Storey, but she last worked together at Royal Portrush, where Westwood challenged briefly before finishing T34.
It remains to be seen how the standings will change in the remaining LIV Golf events, but the pressure is on all players to try and avoid losing their spot in the league this season. The Majesticks co-captains are not the only ones at risk, as players such as Bubba Watson, who finished in the drop zone last year, may not have a safety net this time around. The enhanced and enforced relegation rules are a key part of LIV Golf's fresh bid for OWGR points, making the upcoming events crucial for the players' future in the league.
In the upcoming LIV Golf events, Lee Westwood is desperately trying to climb up the individual standings in an attempt to evade relegation, as he currently sits in 46th place. Given that the 2024 LIV Golf relegation rules state that players finishing 49th or lower will be relegated, Westwood's co-captain, Henrik Stenson, who is in 47th place, and Ian Poulter, in 51st place, likewise face the possibility of leaving the league if they don't improve their positions.
