Which Golfers from LIV Face Possible Demotion as Finale Approaches?
As the 2025 LIV Golf League season enters its final stages, with only two events remaining, the stakes are high for players as the relegation rules come into effect.
According to the relegation rules for this season, players finishing 49th or lower in the individual points standings after the LIV Golf Indianapolis event will be relegated from the league and lose their spots for the following season [1][3][4]. Those relegated can only return to the league by either winning the International Series crown (Asian Tour) or through the LIV Golf Promotions event, which serves as a qualifying route [1].
The standings zones in the LIV Golf League are as follows:
- Players in spots 1-24 ("The Lock Zone") are fully secure and will remain in the league next season.
- Players ranked 25th to 48th ("The Open Zone") face uncertainty—they may be traded or released by their teams but are not automatically relegated.
- Players 49th and below ("The Drop Zone") are relegated without exception, meaning they lose their position and must re-qualify to return next year [1][3].
Notable players currently in "The Drop Zone" include Mito Pereira, LIV rookies Yubin Jang and Fredrik Kjettrup, and Anthony Kim.
One of the players at risk of relegation is Ian Poulter, co-captain of Majesticks, who needs a top-20 finish at LIV Golf Indianapolis to retain his place in 2026.
Interestingly, team captains are not exempt from relegation under the tweaked rules introduced in 2024 [1][4]. This strict relegation policy is enforced by LIV's new CEO, Scott O'Neil, who has made it clear that finishing below 49th means automatic relegation with no leniency, even for prominent players [5].
In the midst of this tense competition, there have been some changes in the roster. Josele Ballester has replaced Luis Masaveu halfway through the LIV Golf season. Ballester, who signed a 'multi-year contract' with Sergio Garcia's Fireballs, has leapfrogged Masaveu in the LIV Golf standings despite having played in five fewer tournaments. Masaveu was dropped as a full-time player ahead of LIV Golf Virginia but has returned as a stand-in on Bubba Watson's RangeGoats roster twice since.
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood is in 47th place with 7.20 points after 12 events, and Henrik Stenson is in 48th place with 5.52 points after the same number of events. Chieh-Po Lee ended LIV Golf Chicago in T13th and bumped himself up to 45th spot on 9.16 points. Andy Ogletree is in 50th place with 4.93 points after 12 events. Brendan Steele is currently in 46th place with 7.36 points after 12 events.
The 2025 LIV Golf League season has been an exciting one, and the final two events promise to be nail-biting as players fight to secure their spots for the next season.
