Category: LIV Tour

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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.

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LIV Tour

How Does the LIV Golf Team Championship Work?

How does the LIV Golf Team Championship format work? (Photo: Getty)
How does the LIV Golf Team Championship format work? (Photo: Getty)

Even if the starting situation of professional athletes on the LIV Golf League could hardly be more different from that of the classic amateur golfer, they do have one thing in common. The golf season is gradually drawing to a close. For the professionals on LIV Golf, this means the Team Championship. The finale of this year’s season will take place at the Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas. The 13 teams of four players will compete for overall victory in this team event over three days from 20 to 22 September.

LIV Golf Team Championship: total prize money of 50 million dollars

In an explosive tournament system in which teams meet each other in direct duels, prize money from a pool totalling 50 million dollars will be played off. The decisive factor for the starting position of the teams going into the Team Championship is the course of the season to date. The teams have already been able to collect points in the previous events. Places 1 to 3 in the current ranking automatically qualify for the second day. The remaining ten teams will face each other on Friday for a place in the semi-finals, with the best teams, starting with the fourth-placed team, choosing their opponents one after the other.

Quarter-finals: Friday, 20th September

On the first day of the tournament, the ten teams that finished 5th to 13th in the season rankings will face each other. All 32 players will compete simultaneously in a cannon start. The teams face each other in a direct duel. A winner is determined by two individual matches and one foursome match, which is played in alternate shot mode. One point is awarded for each of the three matches. There must always be a winner for each match, i.e. matches that are split after 18 holes will continue to be played until one team wins a hole. The teams that score two points move on to the next round.

Semi-finals: Saturday, 21st September

Saturday basically follows the same schedule as Friday. The directly qualified and therefore better-placed teams on the ranking list decide on their opponent for the day, with all 32 players opening the tournament day simultaneously, as on Friday. The teams of four will again play against the opposing team in the same modes to decide a winner. Once again, points cannot be shared. This means that two points are enough to reach the final.

Final: Sunday, 22nd September

The four teams that have reached the final will compete in a round of 18-hole counting play. All individual scores are added together to form the team score. The teams that have previously been eliminated will also compete in the final round. However, teams that have already been eliminated can no longer win. Those who have already been eliminated on the first day will compete for 9th to 13th place, while the teams that have made it to the second day will compete for 5th to 8th place. The team with the lowest cumulative daily score among the finalists will be crowned LIV Golf Team Champion 2024.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf Prize Money: Who Earned the Most Money in 2024?

Jon Rahm earned the most money in the 2024 LIV Golf season. (Source: Getty)
Jon Rahm earned the most money in the 2024 LIV Golf season. (Source: Getty)

The LIV Golf League made headlines again in 2024, partly because of the huge prize money paid out to the players. The final regular season event took place at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Chicago, where Jon Rahm celebrated his second win of the season, securing not only the tournament victory but also the overall title. With an impressive four million dollars in prize money for his victory and an additional 18 million dollars bonus for winning the individual ranking, Rahm tops the season’s earnings list.

The Leaderboard of the Chicago Event

Jon Rahm is the Top Earner of the Season

Jon Rahm has not only won the season’s overall standings, but also tops the LIV Golf League money rankings. The Spaniard has earned an incredible 34,754,488 dollars in total. Following closely behind Rahm is the captain of Torque GC, Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean fought hard for overall victory in Chicago, but was narrowly beaten. Nevertheless, he can look back on a successful year with a second place and a bonus of 12 million dollars. His total earnings amounted to 28,379,167 dollars. Sergio Garcia is in third place in the money rankings. The Spaniard finished the season strongly, securing third place in both the tournament and the overall rankings. With a bonus of 4 million dollars, his total is an impressive 17,334,643 dollars.

How the Prize Money is Distributed at the LIV Golf League

As in the previous year, a pot of 25 million dollars was distributed equally for each of the 13 events. A total of 20 million dollars is divided up for individual prize money. The remaining 5 million dollars will be used for the team ranking. Only for the season finale, the LIV Golf Team Championship, which will take place in Dallas from September 21 to 23, will the prize pool be increased to a total of 50 million dollars.

For the regular tournaments of the season, the prize money is divided as follows: The individual winner of each tournament will receive 4 million dollars. A further 750 thousand dollars is awarded for each game played by the four-man team that wins the team title. The prize money is reduced proportionately with lower tournament placings. However, no one has to worry about going away empty-handed, as even the last-placed team in each tournament takes home 120 thousand dollars.

The Leaderboard of the Team Championship

The Prize Money for the 2024 LIV Golf Season

Position Player Price Money Bonus Payouts
1 Jon Rahm $16,754,488 $18,000,000
2 Joaquin Niemann $16,379,167 $12,000,000
3 Sergio Garcia $13,334,643 $4,000,000
4 Tyrrell Hatton $11,630,263 –
5 Brooks Koepka $8,377,514 –
6 Dean Burmester $8,250,514 –
7 Cameron Smith $8,082,459 –
8 Louis Oosthuizen $8,064,167 –
9 Abraham Ancer $7,436,000 –
10 Carlos Ortiz $7,389,902 –
11 Dustin Johnson $7,122,202 –
12 Talor Gooch $6,153,536 –
13 Brendan Steele $6,090,667 –
14 Paul Casey $6,072,917 –
15 Bryson DeChambeau $6,011,667 –
16 Marc Leishman $5,519,000 –
17 Anirban Lahiri $5,470,633 –
18 Adrian Meronk $5,258,214 –
19 Matthew Wolff $4,767,625 –
20 Charl Schwartzel $4,601,925 –
21 Patrick Reed $4,489,300 –
22 Jason Kokrak $4,129,750 –
23 Sam Horsfield $4,117,617 –
24 Richard Bland $4,108,530 –
25 Peter Uihlein $3,957,750 –
26 Sebastian Munoz $3,821,870 –
27 David Puig $3,643,776 –
28 Lucas Herbert $3,608,833 –
29 Cameron Tringale $3,239,175 –
30 Thomas Pieters $3,068,250 –
31 Kevin Na $3,049,057 –
32 Graeme McDowell $3,032,367 –
33 Henrik Stenson $2,782,304 –
34 Andy Ogletree $2,742,916 –
35 Lee Westwood $2,715,259 –
36 Ian Poulter $2,655,321 –
37 Matt Jones $2,541,758 –
38 Charles Howell III $2,468,321 –
39 Eugenio Chacarra $2,452,900 –
40 Danny Lee $2,361,833 –
41 Martin Kaymer $2,357,328 –
42 Scott Vincent $2,351,833 –
43 Caleb Surratt $2,318,150 –
44 Harold Varner III $2,303,250 –
45 Jinichiro Kozuma $2,106,308 –
46 Phil Mickelson $2,073,914 –
47 Mito Pereira $2,005,833 –
48 Kalle Samooja $2,002,158 –
49 Bubba Watson $1,949,375 –
50 Branden Grace $1,847,435 –
51 Kieran Vincent $1,841,997 –
52 Pat Perez $1,838,125 –
53 John Catlin $1,229,367 –
54 Hudson Swafford $1,000,250 –
55 Anthony Kim $928,417 –
56 Laurie Canter $527,500 –
57 Ben Campbell $187,167 –
58 Wade Ormsby $133,333 –
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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: These Stars Face Potential Relegation from the Tour

These LIV Golf players currently find themselves in the "Drop Zone." (Photos: Getty)

With just one event remaining in the 2024 LIV Golf season, the battle intensifies for players teetering near the bottom of the individual rankings. Players who finish 49th or lower are placed in the “Drop Zone,” meaning they’ll have to compete in the LIV Golf Promotions to secure a spot for the next season. While captains and contracted players are safe from relegation, many others are fighting to stay on the tour.

Team Captains in Safe Territory

Captains like Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer are immune to relegation due to their leadership roles, but for some of their teammates, the situation is far more precarious. Watson currently sits in 52nd place, but his captain status shields him from any consequences. Similarly, Kaymer, who leads Cleeks GC, is safe despite finishing last season in the “Drop Zone.” For other players, however, the final event could decide their future on the tour.

Varner and Perez: On the Edge

Harold Varner III (47th) and Pat Perez (48th) are two notable names hovering near the relegation line. Both players need strong showings in the final event, LIV Golf Chicago, to avoid falling into the “Drop Zone.” Varner, who finished 7th in last year’s standings, is particularly feeling the pressure after an unexpectedly poor 2024 season.

Vincent, Grace, and Canter: Last-Ditch Effort

Scott Vincent (49th) has managed to stay just above the relegation line, with top-25 finishes in the last four tournaments, but he needs another solid performance to secure his place. Meanwhile, Branden Grace (50th) and Laurie Canter (51st) are in similarly precarious positions. Grace has had an inconsistent season, mixing high points with disappointing results, while Canter’s limited schedule — just two events — has left him little opportunity to climb higher in the rankings.

Players at the Bottom

At the lower end of the rankings, Kalle Samooja (53rd) and Kieran Vincent (54th) are in serious jeopardy. Both players entered the league via the 2023 Promotions but have struggled this season. Samooja is firmly in the “Drop Zone,” while Vincent, with only 2.47 points and just one top-20 finish this season, has also been unable to escape the bottom of the leaderboard.

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LIV Tour Uncategorized

LIV Golf Schedule 2025 Overlaps with Important PGA Tour Tournaments

The LIV Golf Singapore and The Players will be played on the same weekend. (Image: Getty)
The LIV Golf Singapore and The Players will be played on the same weekend. (Image: Getty)

The LIV Golf League has announced the first four tournaments for the 2025 schedule. LIV Golf will start its season in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, February 6-8. A week later the saudi-financed circuit will head to Australia for one of their marquee events. LIV Golf Adelaide (Feb. 14-16) will once again be played on “The Grange”. LIV Golf Hong Kong (Mar. 7-9) and LIV Golf Singapore (Mar. 14-16) round out the first events of the 2025 schedule. At first sight it is obvious, that the circuit starts the next season with an international schedule. If you also take a look on which PGA Tour events will be played parallel to LIVs events, it will show, that the league is not backing down from important and prestigious PGA Tour tournaments.

LIV Golf Singapore and The Players on the same weekend

Certainly the most notable overlap is the one between the Singapore Event and The Players (Mar. 13-16). While this might be the most notable overlap, the other three are also woth noting. The season kickoff in Saudi Arabia will take place February 6-8 parallel to the WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 6-9). A week later the Adelaide event (Feb. 14-16) and the Genesis Invitational (Feb. 13-16) are set. Last but not least the Hong Kong tournament overlaps with the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

It has to be mentioned, that due to the time difference the events will not overlap in terms of (TV-)time. Nonetheless it will be interesting to see, if there is any effect on either of the tournaments.

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LIV Tour

Graeme McDowell Faces Suspension for Using Banned Substance in Nasal Spray

Graeme McDowell was suspended from the LIV Golf League for using a banned substance in a nasal spray. (Source: Getty)
Graeme McDowell was suspended from the LIV Golf League for using a banned substance in a nasal spray. (Source: Getty)

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open Champion, has been suspended from participating in the upcoming LIV Golf League event in Nashville, Tennessee. The suspension, accompanied by a hefty fine of $125,000, was imposed after McDowell tested positive for L-Methamphetamine, a banned substance found in an over-the-counter nasal decongestant he purchased.

Graeme McDowell Has Been Suspended from the LIV Golf League

The 45-year-old Northern Irish golfer had reportedly purchased the Vicks nasal spray from a local drugstore to alleviate his congestion. Unbeknownst to McDowell, the product contained the prohibited substance, leading to his positive test result during a routine doping control. “As a professional golfer, I understand the importance of thoroughly checking all medications and applying for a therapeutic use exemption when necessary,” McDowell expressed on the social media platform X. “Unfortunately, I neglected to do so in this case, as it was an over-the-counter medication, and I deeply regret this oversight. I fully accept the sanctions imposed by LIV.”

The consequences of McDowell’s oversight extend beyond personal penalties; his disqualification also led to the exclusion of his entire Smash GC team from the Nashville event. This incident serves as a stark reminder to all professional athletes about the importance of vigilance when it comes to medication, even those that are easily accessible.

McDowell Shifts Blame, Criticizes Other Tours Amid Doping Controversy

However, McDowell did not stop at accepting responsibility. In true LIV Golf fashion, he used the opportunity to take a swipe at the broader golf establishment. “LIV’s anti-doping policy is designed with thoroughness and transparency in mind,” he noted. “Unlike some other tours, LIV rigorously enforces these rules… They are essential for maintaining the integrity of the sport.”

McDowell’s comments echo sentiments often associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, a known supporter of LIV Golf, who has a reputation for deflecting blame and turning personal missteps into criticisms of others. McDowell’s decision to turn his own violation into a critique of other tours highlights the ongoing tensions between LIV Golf and the traditional golf world.