What is LIV Golf? Here’s everything you need to know
It’s the breakaway golf series which has dominated the sport since arriving in 2022. But what exactly is LIV Golf? We answer all the important questions about the league fronted by Greg Norman and backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund headed by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
How did LIV Golf start?
There’s been talk of breakaway golf tours for some time now. Back in the days when Greg Norman was one of the very best in the world, he was at loggerheads with the PGA Tour because he didn’t believe the game’s biggest names were compensated enough for what they brought to the sport.
In 1994, the Australian pushed proposed a World Golf Tour which ultimately failed. Three decades later, Norman is now the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s bottomless Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Why ‘LIV’?
It’s simple really. LIV is Roman numerals for 54. Keep reading and more will become clear…
What is LIV Golf?
Billed as ‘Golf, but louder’, LIV promises to “modernise and supercharge the game of professional golf through expanded opportunities for both players and fans alike.”
How do they plan to do that? Well, let’s dig a little deeper…
What is the format?
LIV Golf features 48 players competing in an individual tournament for a lot of money (we’ll get to that). Those 48 players are also split into 12 teams of four who also compete for even more money (we’ll get to that, too).
Breaking from the conventional formats seen on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, LIV Golf events are played over 54 holes, with shotgun starts and no cuts.
What is the schedule?
In 2022, LIV Golf held eight events around the world. This was made up of seven ‘Invitational Series’ events which featured two competitions – individual and team – starting at Centurion Club in June and ending in Bangkok and Jeddah in October, with five stops in the United States in between.
The eighth and final event of the season – the LIV Golf Team Championship at Donald Trump’s Doral – was then a team only event which consisted of match play and stroke play.
- Click here for the full 2022 LIV schedule
- Success or failure? Breaking down LIV Golf’s chaotic debut season
Moving into 2023, LIV Golf has upped the ante and will stage 14 tournaments around the world. Changing its name to the LIV Golf League, the 12 teams and 48-man field will be set for the entire season, with the season running from February through to October.
Who’s playing?
Now onto the fun part.
During its debut season, LIV Golf chopped and changed its roster like one year-long transfer window.
The biggest names to first sign up included major winners Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garica, as well as Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell.
As more money was thrown into the pot and rumours intensified, the field then strengthened throughout the season, with major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, and, perhaps most controversially – given it cost him his Ryder Cup captaincy – Henrik Stenson signing up.
Norman then got his biggest coup when he landed Cameron Smith just two months after winning The Open at St Andrews.
The likes of Paul Casey, Kevin Na, Abraham Ancer have also made the move.
And who’s turned them down?
Rumours will always swirl – but players who have spoken out against LIV include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
How much are the players earning?
Well, a lot. The first seven tournaments each carried a prize pot of $25 million – $20 million for the individual competition and $5 million for the team side of things.
The maximum you can win at an event is $4.75 million – $4 million for winning the individual competition, and $750,000 for the winning team’s share per player – as Charl Schwartzel did in the first event at Centurion. That works out to more than $23,000 per shot. Not bad for three days’ work.
At the season finale, the LIV Golf Team Championship produced an eye-watering purse of $50 million, with the winners taking home $4 million each.
Finally – and just when you thought LIV couldn’t possibly dish out any more prize winnings – LIV also offers an individual title, which players vie for by accumulating points over the regular season. In 2022, this was won by Dustin Johnson, who pocketed an insane $18 million for winning the season-long award.
The prize money for the 2023 season is yet to be confirmed.
What about world ranking points?
As it stands, LIV Golf is not accredited by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), meaning its players do not get any points for competing in the league’s events.
Because of this, the LIV golfers have already started to slump significantly in the OWGR – given they have also been banned form competing on the PGA Tour. Click here to read all about that.
LIV Golf is currently undergoing the process to gain OWGR status, although the hurdles couldn’t be greater at this moment in time.
Anything else?
If you’re not completely LIV’d out by now, here’s a few other talking points about the series which you ought to know…
