The new LIV Golf League season starts on February 4 with new players and rules. A complete overview of teams and changes.
The LIV Golf season begins on February 4 with a number of format changes and new faces. Alongside adjustments in format, prize money and point systems have been updated.
More Holes, More Prize Money, and More Points
The LIV Golf League launches its 2026 season with an expanded competition concept. More rounds, an enhanced point system, and increased prize money bring a variety of changes for the new season. The field consists of 57 players, including 52 regular team players and five wildcard players. These players are distributed across 13 teams, each consisting of four professionals plus the wildcards, who compete only in the individual ranking. A total of 14 events will be played, featuring both team and individual competitions.
New Point System: Every Point Counts in the Fight for Prize Money
For 2026, LIV Golf introduces a more comprehensive point system. Each event awards a total of 1,000 individual points, with the winner receiving 200 points. Crucially, every placement earns points, replacing the previous all-or-nothing approach.
The team ranking sees a paradigm shift as well. While previously only the top eight teams earned points, now all teams are rewarded. The winner gets 30 points, second place 15, and even the last-placed team receives two points, keeping every team competitive until the final day.
The financial stakes have also increased significantly: the weekly team prize money doubles from five to ten million dollars. From 2026 onward, each team will receive prize money based on their placement, not just the top teams. Additionally, a new individual prize money model distributes 2.3 million euros per week among the top individual players from podium teams. Overall, 470 million euros in prize money are up for grabs this season.
Team Championship as the Grand LIV Golf Tour Showdown
The season concludes with the 14th event, the Team Championship, dedicated solely to the team title. The format starts with match play: quarter and semifinal rounds feature two singles matches per team (one-on-one) plus a foursome. The final Sunday is stroke play, where all four team members play together and all scores count. The team with the lowest total score becomes the season’s team champion.