The new LIV Golf League season kicks off on February 4, featuring new players and updated rules. An overview of teams and changes.
The LIV Golf League starts on February 4 with several changes and new faces. Besides format changes, prize money and point systems have been adjusted.
More Holes, More Prize Money, and More Points
The LIV Golf League approaches 2026 with an expanded competition concept. More rounds, an enhanced points system, and increased prize money bring several changes for the new season. A total of 57 players, including 52 fixed team players and five wildcard spots, make up the field. Distributed across 13 teams, each team has four professionals, supplemented by wildcards who compete exclusively in the individual rankings. There will be 14 events in total, featuring both team and individual competitions.
New Points System: Every Point Counts in the Battle for Prize Money
New for the upcoming season: All tournaments will now be played over four days, Thursday through Sunday, totaling 72 holes. The established shotgun start from all 18 holes remains, as does the absence of a cut. Every player stays in the tournament until the final putt.
The individual winner of an event is the player with the lowest total score after 72 holes. Simultaneously, each player’s individual rounds fully count towards the team score. The team with the lowest combined score card wins the team title for the event.
In 2026, LIV Golf introduces a more comprehensive points system. A total of 1,000 individual points are awarded per event, with the winner receiving 200 points. Crucially, every placing earns points, replacing the previous all-or-nothing system.
There is also a paradigm shift in the team standings. Previously, only the top 8 teams earned points; now, all teams receive points. The winner earns 30 points, second place 15, and even the last-placed team receives two points. This keeps every team competitively relevant until the very end.
The financial aspect grows considerably: weekly team prize money doubles from five to ten million dollars. From 2026, teams will receive prize money based on their placement, not just the top finishers. In addition, a new individual prize pool of 2.3 million euros per week is distributed among the top individual players on podium teams. In total, 470 million euros in prize money are available this season.
After 13 regular events, the individual champion will be determined by the accumulated points. But it’s about more than just the title; every placing affects prize money, contract status, and the league’s future via classification into three zones:
Lock Zone (Places 1–34): guarantees a contract offer for the next season.
Open Zone (Places 35–46): allows continued league participation but without contract guarantees.
Drop Zone (Places 47–57): players must re-qualify for their league spot via relegation.
Team Championship as the Grand Finale of the LIV Golf Tour
The season concludes with the 14th