LIV Golf - Complete Guide for Golf Fans

LIV Golf launched in 2022 as a rival professional golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. With a radically different format, enormous guaranteed contracts and some of the biggest names in the game, LIV has fundamentally altered the landscape of professional golf. Whether you are a fan or a sceptic, understanding LIV Golf is essential for following the modern game. This guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is LIV Golf?

LIV Golf (the Roman numerals for 54, reflecting the number of holes played in each event) is a professional golf league that operates independently from the established tours. It was created by LIV Golf Investments, with Greg Norman serving as the league's initial CEO and commissioner.

The league was designed to challenge the traditional model of professional golf with shorter events, a team format, no cuts and guaranteed prize money. It attracted headline attention by signing several of the world's top players to lucrative contracts.

How LIV Golf Works - Format Explained

LIV Golf's format differs significantly from traditional stroke play tournaments on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour:

54 Holes, No Cut

LIV events are played over three rounds (54 holes) instead of the traditional four (72 holes). There is no cut - every player in the field competes in all three rounds, regardless of their score. This means fans who follow a particular player are guaranteed to see them compete all weekend.

Shotgun Start

Instead of traditional tee times where players go off the first tee in groups over several hours, LIV uses a shotgun start. All groups begin simultaneously on different holes across the course, meaning the entire field finishes at roughly the same time. This compresses the action into a shorter window, typically around four to five hours.

Team Competition

LIV's most distinctive feature is its team format. The league is divided into franchise teams of four players each. Teams compete for a separate prize pool alongside the individual competition. Each team has a captain, branding and a distinct identity.

Team standings are determined by the cumulative scores of each team's three best individual scores in each round.

Season Format

The LIV Golf season typically features around 14 individual events plus a season-ending team championship. The schedule includes events across multiple countries, though with fewer stops than the PGA Tour or DP World Tour calendars.

Notable LIV Golf Players

LIV Golf attracted several high-profile players from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour:

• Jon Rahm - former world number one and multiple major champion who made headlines with his move to LIV
• Bryson DeChambeau - U.S. Open champion known for his prodigious driving distance and analytical approach
• Brooks Koepka - multiple major champion who joined LIV after a dominant run on the PGA Tour
• Phil Mickelson - six-time major champion and one of golf's most popular figures
• Dustin Johnson - former world number one with multiple major titles
• Cameron Smith - The Open champion who moved to LIV at the height of his career

LIV Golf Teams

LIV's team structure gives the league a different feel from individual-focused tours. Teams include:

• Crushers GC - captained by Bryson DeChambeau
• 4 Aces GC - featuring Dustin Johnson
• Smash GC - featuring Brooks Koepka
• Legion XIII - featuring Jon Rahm
• Ripper GC - featuring Cameron Smith

Each team develops its own fanbase, merchandise and identity, adding a layer of engagement that traditional golf does not typically offer.

LIV Golf vs PGA Tour - Key Differences

The World Rankings Question

One of the most significant issues facing LIV Golf has been the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). For a period after its launch, LIV events did not receive OWGR points, which affected players' ability to qualify for major championships based on world ranking.

This has been a contentious point in professional golf, as major championships use world ranking position as a key qualification criterion. The relationship between LIV Golf and the OWGR system has evolved over time and remains an important factor in the sport's structure.

LIV Golf and the Majors

The four major championships - the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and PGA Championship - are run by independent organisations with their own qualification criteria. This means LIV Golf players can and do compete in majors, provided they meet the entry requirements.

Past major champions typically have long-term or lifetime exemptions into certain majors. Other LIV players may qualify through world ranking, past performance or other criteria specific to each championship.

For a look at how this plays out in practice, see our Masters 2026 preview.

The Future of LIV Golf

The professional golf landscape has been in flux since LIV's launch. Discussions between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund regarding a potential framework agreement have been ongoing. The ultimate shape of professional golf's future - whether that involves a merger, coexistence or continued competition - remains one of the biggest stories in sport.

What is clear is that LIV Golf has forced the established tours to evolve. The PGA Tour's introduction of elevated events, increased purses and guaranteed money for top players was a direct response to LIV's challenge.

How to Follow LIV Golf Live

LIV Golf's compressed format and shotgun starts create a unique viewing experience. With all players on the course simultaneously, the action is fast-paced and the leaderboard can change dramatically in a short period.

GolfMode lets you follow LIV events in real time, tracking individual players and team standings as the action unfolds. The three-round format means every shot matters - there is no margin for a slow start when there are only 54 holes to play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can LIV Golf players play in the Ryder Cup?

Ryder Cup eligibility has been a complex issue. The Ryder Cup is jointly organised by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe (which is linked to the DP World Tour). LIV Golf players' eligibility depends on the evolving rules and agreements between these organisations.

Why is it called LIV Golf?

LIV represents the Roman numerals for 54, which is the number of holes played in each LIV Golf event (three rounds of 18 holes). Traditional tour events play 72 holes over four rounds.

How much money do LIV Golf players earn?

LIV Golf offers guaranteed contracts to its players in addition to tournament prize money. Total purses for individual events have been reported at $25 million each, with a significant team championship purse as well. Individual guaranteed contracts for top players are reported to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Do LIV Golf results count towards the world rankings?

The relationship between LIV Golf and the Official World Golf Ranking has evolved since the league's launch. The availability and quantity of OWGR points for LIV events has been a subject of ongoing discussion and negotiation.

Track LIV Golf events live on GolfMode - download free.