Category: LIV Tour

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: Patrick Reed’s Hole-in-One Sends Adelaide into a Frenzy

Patrick Reed aces the 12th hole at LIV Golf Adelaide. (Photo: Getty)

It took less than half an hour for LIV Golf Adelaide to serve up its first unforgettable moment in the first round. Former Masters champion Patrick Reed stood on the iconic 12th hole at The Grange Golf Club—dubbed the “Watering Hole.” A short par 3, framed by a sea of revelers primed for fireworks. And then came the shot: The ball landed, rolled, and disappeared into the cup. The already frenzied grandstand erupted. Beer cups flew skyward, rained down onto the fairway and green, and Reed, arms thrust in triumph, basked in the chaos. A hole-in-one on this stage? A guaranteed spectacle.

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Reed’s Shot Causes LIV Golf Frenzy

Reed’s start had been anything but remarkable. Opening his round on the 11th in LIV’s shotgun format, he stumbled out of the gate with a bogey. But the 12th hole, a par-3, flipped the script. A crisp strike, an ideal ball flight, a clean landing—and just like that, the ball disappeared.

An Ace for an Ace(s)

If there’s a hole built for these moments, it’s the 12th. Chase Koepka’s ace here in 2023 set the precedent, and Reed’s effort only added to the lore. As his ball vanished, the crowd detonated in celebration. Drinks took flight, cups littered the green, and Reed soaked in the moment, grinning ear to ear. Northern Ireland’s commentator David Feherty summed it up dryly: “Well, that didn’t take long.” The atmosphere rivaled the electric 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, known for producing golf’s biggest party moments.

First-Round Takeaways

Despite the magic moment, Reed couldn’t sustain the momentum, finishing the day at one-over par. Meanwhile, Sam Horsfield surged to the top of the leaderboard, carding six birdies for a six-under-par round.

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LIV Tour

McKibbin and his LIV movement: Pragmatists or pioneers of the contemporary spirit?

Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)
Tom McKibbin at the Porsche European Open. (Image: getty)

Tom McKibbin is probably the best known of the six new additions to the LIV Golf League 2025. With 292,500 dollars for a tie for 15th place, the Northern Irishman only collected around 50,000 dollars less at the season opener than for winning the Porsche European Open 2023 on the DP World Tour. And there will probably be a share of the team success in Riyadh anyway, which will earn Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII three million dollars. McKibbin’s move to the competitive circuit is therefore likely to have already paid off, for which he even threw Rory McIlroy’s advice to the wind. The two share the same home club, Holywood GC near Belfast, and the four-time major winner – a millennial by the way – had advised his young colleague to work his way up the DP World Tour and make a go of it on the PGA Tour, for which McKibbin qualified last year: “If I were you, I’d make a different decision to the one you’re thinking of making. It would be a waste of your enormous potential.”

McKibbin on missing out: “I am not in these Majors anyway”

But McKibbin didn’t care and chose the penuncle. Of course, if he was offered such prospects – why not take them? The Northern Irishman is just the latest in a series of young players to follow the call of fast money: Money first, what’s the rocky road to the majors or team competitions like the Ryder Cup compared to that. McKibbin’s mantra in this regard could not be more pragmatic and is as telling as it is significant: “I’m not in these majors at the moment anyway, so it doesn’t bother me too much.” He was number 106 in the world when he switched sides, but now there are no more OWGR points for the time being. And the appointment to the GB&I team for the Team Cup 2025, i.e. the nomination to the extended circle of European Ryder Cuppers, doesn’t seem to have triggered a surge of ambition either: Profession instead of vocation, the path of least resistance and work-life balance instead of competitive toughness and perseverance. And that at the age of 22. Oh, right, McKibbin has an excuse for that too: “I made this decision because I’m young. It [LIV] is something completely different; something that probably appeals to more people my age.”

For some, this fulfills every cliché that is often attributed to Generation Z and the attitude of these so-called millennial children towards challenges. For example, the management consultant and lawyer Susanne Nickel, who wrote a book in 2024 entitled “Verzogen, verweichlicht, verletzt” (Spoiled, effeminate, hurt) and defines Gen Z as the product of an affluent society that tends to overprotect and lacks discipline, motivation and resilience. So, if the Zoomers determine the zeitgeist, McKibbin would be a “model boy”.

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LIV Tour

US Open awards starting places to LIV golfers

US Open exemption for LIV Golfers. (Photo: Getty)
US Open exemption for LIV Golfers. (Photo: Getty)

Until now, LIV golfers could only qualify directly for the biggest tournaments of the year via the world ranking, unless they had already qualified for majors through past successes. Without world ranking points, however, this becomes more and more difficult, which is why the USGA now provides a full exemption for a LIV golfer at the US Open 2025.

US Open introduces qualification criteria for LIV golfers

Already this year, a place in the field will be awarded to the best LIV golfer who has not yet qualified for the US Open at Oakmont Country Club and is in the top 3 of the LIV Golf individual rankings (as of 19 May 2025). In addition, the top 10 in the LIV Golf individual rankings (as of 7 April 2025) will receive a place in local qualifying for the major tournament and can therefore also qualify.

In 2026, there will additionally be a direct starting place for the best, not yet qualified LIV Golf player from the top 3 of the 2025 final ranking, as well as places for local qualifying based on the top 10 of the final ranking.

‘The USGA continues to evaluate the opportunities that exist to e“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category.”

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is delighted by the news. “We’re pleased that the USGA has formally created a new exemption for LIV Golf players to compete in the U.S. Open and appreciate Mike Whan’s leadership and commitment to growing the game of golf. Every golf fan in the world longs to see the greatest players in the world competing on golf’s biggest stages at the majors.

The US Open is the first major tournament to follow this path. The PGA Championship has extended a special invitation to LIV golfer Joaquin Niemann, as it did in 2024.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: Tom McKibbin transfers – teams for 2025 are set

Tom McKibbin joins LIV Golf. (Image: Getty)
Tom McKibbin joins LIV Golf. (Image: Getty)

Tom McKibbin is joining the Jon Rahm-led Legion XIII team and will play golf at LIV Golf in 2025. The transfer of the 22-year-old Northern Irishman, who is considered a close friend of Rory McIlroy, had already been expected and has now been officially confirmed. Like McIlroy, McKibbin comes from Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland. McKibbin had not commented on the first rumors regarding a move to LIV, which emerged at the beginning of January. He secured a PGA Tour card for the first time last season in 2024, but is now forgoing it in favor of his start at LIV. In response to the rumors, McIlroy explained at a press conference that he had spoken to McKibbin on the phone and clearly advised him against the switch.

Jon Rahm personally announces in an Instagram post that McKibbin will complete his team in the 2025 LIV season and welcomes him:

The LIV season starts next week from February 6 to 8 at the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, where 13 teams will compete with four players each. There have been several changes in the run-up to the event: back in December 2024, it was announced that Dane Frederik Kjettrup would be joining the Cleeks GC managed by Martin Kaymer, while Spaniard Luis Masaveu was announced as a new member of the Fireballs GC under team captain Sergio Garcia.

The complete overview of the LIV teams

Team Player
4Aces GC
  • Dustin Johnson (USA), Captain
  • Thomas Pieters (Belgium)
  • Adrian Meronk (Poland)
  • Harold Varner III (USA)
Cleeks GC
  • Martin Kaymer (Germany), Captain
  • Richard Bland (England)
  • Patrick Reed (USA)
  • Frederik Kjettrup (Denmark)
Crushers GC
  • Bryson DeChambeau (USA) Captain
  • Paul Casey (England)
  • Charles Howell III (USA)
  • Anirban Lahiri (India)
Fireballs GC
  • Sergio Garcia (Spain), Captain
  • Abraham Ancer (Mexico)
  • Luis Masaveu (Spain)
  • David Puig (Spain)
HyFlyers GC
  • Phil Mickelson (USA), Captain
  • Andy Ogletree (USA)
  • Brendan Steele (USA)
  • Cameron Tringale (USA)
Iron Heads GC
  • Kevin Na (USA), Captain
  • Jinichiro Kozuma (Japan)
  • Yubin Jang (South Korea)
  • Danny Lee (New Zeeland)
Legion XIII
  • Jon Rahm (Spain), Captain
  • Tyrrell Hatton (England)
  • Caleb Surratt (USA)
  • Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland)
Majesticks GC
  • Ian Poulter (England), Captain
  • Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Captain
  • Lee Westwood (England), Captain
  • Sam Horsfield (England)
RangeGoats GC
  • Bubba Watson (USA), Captain
  • Ben Campbell (New Zeeland)
  • Peter Uihlein (USA)
  • Matthew Wolff (USA)
Ripper GC
  • Cameron Smith (Australia), Captain
  • Lucas Herbert (Australia)
  • Matt Jones (Australia)
  • Marc Leishman (Australia)
Smash GC
  • Brooks Koepka (USA), Captain
  • Talor Gooch (USA)
  • Jason Kokrak (USA)
  • Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)
Stinger GC
  • Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Captain
  • Dean Burmester (South Africa)
  • Branden Grace (South Africa)
  • Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
Torque GC
  • Joaquin Niemann (Chile), Captain
  • Sebastian Munoz (Columbia)
  • Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
  • Mito Pereira (Chile)
Wild Card Players
  • Anthony Kim (USA)
  • Max Lee (Taiwan)
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LIV Tour PGA Tour

PGA destroys LIV Golf: A showdown at Shadow Creek

The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)
The Showdown: Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau (LIV) against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA) (Photo: Getty)

It was billed as a clash of giants, but in the end the “showdown” between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour at Shadow Creek turned out to be a one-sided affair. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (PGA Tour) gave their opponents Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (LIV Golf) no chance and showed who currently has the upper hand in professional golf.

Rory McIlroy’s: A picture-book eagle putt

Scheffler and McIlroy made it clear from the very first minute that they had arrived as favorites. Rory McIlroy, who was on top form right from the start, provided the highlight of the evening with an eagle putt over 12 meters on the fourth hole. “Rory’s start was important for our team,” said Scheffler, praising his partner. This gave the PGA stars an unassailable lead early on.

Rusty and outclassed: LIV remains without a chance

DeChambeau and Koepka, who had not competed since the end of the LIV season in September, looked visibly rusty and were unable to counter the pressure from their opponents.

The format of the match was divided into three segments: a six-hole four-ball match, a six-hole four-ball match and singles matches over the last six holes. Despite the different formats, the LIV players were not in the lead in any of the matches. In the four-ball, they were already hopelessly behind after just four holes, and Koepka also sealed the loss of points in the foursome with a three-putt bogey on the last hole.

The singles matches on the last six holes finally decided the outcome: McIlroy and Scheffler won confidently, and the match ended on the 16th hole – before the spectators even got to see the famous par-3 17th hole at Shadow Creek.

DeChambeau, who wore an oversized jacket against the chilly evening air during the match, was nevertheless combative: “I’d love to get another opportunity,” said DeChambeau. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”

Scheffler and McIlroy’s victory earned them 5 million dollars each in cryptocurrency and capped off a successful year for both players. Scheffler had previously won in the Bahamas, while McIlroy had won the European Tour final in Dubai.

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LIV Tour

New Rumor: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman about to Be Replaced?

Greg Norman soon to be replaced as LIV Golf CEO? (Image: Getty)
Greg Norman soon to be replaced as LIV Golf CEO? (Image: Getty)

While talks about a possible collaboration between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour remain without concrete results, there is now a new rumor surrounding the league sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. As the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reports based on unspecified sources, LIV Golf is looking for a successor to CEO Greg Norman. The news comes just a few weeks after the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan played alongside Rory McIlroy.

The latter had already called for Norman’s resignation earlier this year in favor of better LIV-PGA cooperation, “I think Greg needs to go. I think he just needs to exit stage left. He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”

LIV Golf: Will Greg Norman Be Replaced soon?

As SBJ reports, the search for a new CEO has been underway for several months. The London agency “Odgers Berndtson” is probably leading the search for the PIF and is looking at sports stars worldwide. This agency has already led the search for new directors and CEOs for Saudi Arabia in other sports, most recently for the soccer club Newcastle United in July of this year.

According to SBJ, Brett Yormak was supposed to have been a possible candidate. The Big 12 Commissioner is said to have already been in talks with the agency, but these were unsuccessful according to reports. The Big 12 is an American collage league consisting of 16 universities with various sports disciplines, including American football and golf.

It is not yet clear exactly what will happen next for Greg Norman. However, international media speculation suggests that he will remain with LIV Golf in the future, but in a new role.

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LIV Tour PGA Tour Top Tours

„The Showdown“: New Details on the PGA Tour versus LIV Golf Duel

Brooks Koepka (left) will team up with Bryson DeChambeau against Rory McIlroy (right) and Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty)
Brooks Koepka (left) will team up with Bryson DeChambeau against Rory McIlroy (right) and Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty)

As was announced at the beginning of September, PGA Tour players Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will compete in a team duel against LIV stars Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Now there are more details about the clash: The event will take place on December 17, 2024 at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, and could pave the way for more similar competitions.

PGA Tour versus LIV Golf: Who, when, where and how? – All details

The duel of the tours is called “The Showdown”. It will be a first for four of the biggest names in golf: McIlroy and Scheffler for the PGA Tour, as well as Koepka and DeChambeau for LIV Golf. The format of the duel has not yet been fully determined, but a kind of match play over 18 holes is expected. There will also be no prize money.

It will be broadcast by the US channel TNT, which is already known for the series “The Match”, in which prominent golfers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson competed against each other. Despite the similar concept, “The Showdown” is not part of this series, but is an independent event.

Plans for the future

“The Showdown” could be the first of several matches between PGA and LIV players. There are already plans to expand this format in the future, with larger teams of possibly six or eight players per side. It is also planned that the duel will take place at least once a year and be played alternately in the USA and internationally.

This match offers fans a rare opportunity to see the best players from both tours come together more often than just at majors. Since the inception of LIV Golf, the question of whether the world rankings accurately reflect the skill levels of all players has been raised time and time again: As LIV events do not provide world ranking points, the LIV players slip further and further down the rankings.

PGA Tour players and LIV Tour players hardly ever meet in their regular tournament calendars. This year, they only competed in majors and at the Olympic Games: World number one Scottie Scheffler won the Masters and the gold medal at the Olympics. Bryson DeChambeau also won another major this year, narrowly beating Rory McIlroy at the US Open in Pinehurst. Koepka secured his fifth major victory last year at the PGA Championship.

Matches between players on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf could help to resolve uncertainties about playing strength. This is also the hope of Bryson DeChambeau, who spoke at an LIV Golf event in Chicago: “I think it’s going to develop over the course of time and hopefully give the people what they want.” It is possible that the match will become a regular feature of golf, regardless of the ongoing negotiations between the PGA and the LIV financiers.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf Team Championship: Cameron Smith and Ripper GC Celebrate in Dallas

LIV Golf Team Championship 2024: Cameron Smith and Ripper GC win in Dallas. (Photo: Getty)
LIV Golf Team Championship 2024: Cameron Smith and Ripper GC win in Dallas. (Photo: Getty)

After Jon Rahm was crowned ‘Individual Champion’ last week, the LIV Golf Tour in Dallas decided the Team Championship this week. Without the participation of the defending champions Crushers GC around captain Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, who was ill, the Australian team Ripper GC prevailed against the competition on the final day.

The Complete Leaderboard of the LIV Golf Team Championship 2024

LIV Golf: Ripper GC Wins the Team Championship in Dallas

On the final day of the LIV Golf Team Championship in Dallas, team captain Cameron Smith and Ripper GC lived up to their role as favorites. In addition to the two surprise teams 4Aces GC and Iron Heads GC, who only finished 10th in the season rankings and, in the case of Iron Heads, a distant 13th, Ripper GC also had to deal with second-placed Legion XIII in the final. However, without Jon Rahm, who was ill, the newly formed team was clearly weakened. While Tyrrell Hatton did everything in his power with a round of 68 to make up for the Spaniard’s absence, it was Kieran Vincent’s weak round of 73 that ultimately made the difference. The one stroke over par was the weakest score among the four final teams. At Ripper GC, captain Cameron Smith was able to rely on the performance of his teammates (Herbert 69, Jones 70, Leishman 70) and successfully led the team to the Team Championship (-11) with a joint best score of the day of 68 strokes. Second place was shared by 4Aces GC and Iron Heads GC with the two captains Dustin Johnson and Kevin Na (-8).

After the final round, team captain Cameron Smith was visibly relieved: “Yeah, it was pretty unreal. Yeah, so proud. There was something in me that was going to tell me that the boys were going to come through. The Gladiator, the last four of the five holes, pretty unbelievable. Really cool stuff. I mean, to be a part of this is unreal, especially with these guys.”

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Highlights Tours LIV Tour PGA Tour

Solheim Cup Seven Times More Popular than Rahm’s Double Victory

The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)
The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)

A look at the viewing figures for last week’s golf TV broadcasts shows that the women’s events were by far the most popular with golf fans. The Solheim Cup was a highlight in the women’s tournament calendar that dominated the TV landscape. Neither the LIV Golf League nor the PGA Tour aroused anywhere near as much interest.

Solheim Cup 2024 dominated the ratings

Compared to the last Solheim Cup, which took place in Spain in 2022, the ratings increased significantly in this year’s edition, according to Josh Carpenter from Sports Business Journal. The singles matches on Sunday in particular sparked interest behind the screens, with an average of 657,000 viewers watching on NBC on the final day, more than twice as many viewers as the previous edition of the continental competition. On Saturday, the ratings were similarly high with 634,000 viewers. The figures were particularly pleasing in view of the fact that the Cup fell on the second Sunday of the National Football League. As the Cup finished in the early afternoon in the Eastern time zone, the events did not overlap for the most part.

LIV Golf and PGA Tour put in the shade

The season finale in the individual rankings of the LIV Golf League took place at the same time as the Solheim Cup. Also one of the highlights of the year, it didn’t stand a chance against the women’s competition. Although Jon Rahm won the tournament in Chicago and thus also the season title, the tournament attracted far less attention with only around 89,000 spectators. On Saturday there were still 134,000 spectators.

However, the PGA Tour received the least attention, with just 69,000 spectators. The Procore Championship was the first event of the Fall Series, which was watched by only around a tenth of the spectators who were rooting for the ladies.

The figures for the Solheim Cup are particularly pleasing in terms of viewing figures throughout the year. The declining ratings were notable throughout the PGA Tour season and were underscored by double-digit declines for all three FedEx Cup Playoff events, according to Sports Media Watch. The Tour Championship saw a 13 percent drop in viewership, while the FedEx St. Jude Championship was down 31 percent and the BMW Championship was down 19 percent.

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European Tour LIV Tour

DP World Tour Rebuffs LIV Golf

Jon Rahm in the dispute between DP World Tour and LIV Golf. (Photo: Getty)
Jon Rahm in the dispute between DP World Tour and LIV Golf. (Photo: Getty)

The LIV Golf League has split the golf world into two camps: The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour clearly distanced themselves from the new tour, imposed sanctions on their players and blocked any rapprochement. The LIV Golf League did not let up and over time the fronts seemed to calm down a little – from allowing the return of players who had left to a joint umbrella organization. Negotiations have recently resumed.

The Jon Rahm case causes a stir

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of fuss about Jon Rahm, one of the best players in the world, who decided to switch to LIV Golf. Although LIV players are now allowed to take part in the coveted major tournaments, the Spaniard would not be able to take part in the Ryder Cup without playing on the DP World Tour. Sports Illustrated reported that before Rahm appealed his sanctions, LIV Golf attempted to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would lift the penalties for LIV players while offering various concessions and a monetary payout from the league.

By appealing the penalties imposed by the DP World Tour, Jon Rahm has been given the temporary opportunity to play on the DP World Tour and thus participate in the Spanish Open 2024 next week. Not only will he be playing for a DP World Tour victory in his home country, but he can also secure important points for a possible place in the European Ryder Cup team.

To maintain membership, a DP World Tour player must play in at least four tournaments outside the majors. The Olympics count as one of those, so Rahm has three more to go. He will have to do the same in 2025, when the fines theoretically kick in again. It is believed that he owes around 1 million dollars. It can be assumed that the figure for next year will be similar.

Paying off his fine should not be a problem for Jon Rahm or LIV Golf as his backers: LIV Golf has so far paid around 12 million pounds (around 15.75 million dollars) in fines for LIV golfers who have taken part in DP World Tour events – a further 10 million pounds is still outstanding. Rahm could scrape together what he owes without question.

The DP World Tour says “no”

LIV Golf had made an offer to the DP World Tour with the aim of enabling migrated players to participate in selected DP World Tour events. The DP World Tour rejected the offer with the following explanation: “We met with them and listened to their proposal but did not accept it, as our view remains that the focus should continue to be on all stakeholders working together to reach an overall solution that benefits our sport.” This means that the issue surrounding Jon Rahm, which also affects other players such as Tyrrell Hatton, remains.