The LIV Golf League kicks off its 2026 season on February 4 with new players and updated rules. Here’s an overview of teams and changes.
The LIV Golf season starts on February 4 with several changes and fresh faces. In addition to format adjustments, prize money and point systems have been revamped.
More Holes, Bigger Prize Money and Expanded Points System
The LIV Golf League launches in 2026 with an expanded competition concept. More rounds, an enhanced points system, and increased prize money bring notable changes for the new season. A total of 57 players, including 52 regular team members and five wildcard entrants, will compete. These players are divided into 13 teams, each consisting of four pros plus the wildcard players who compete only in individual standings. In total, 14 events will be played with both team and individual competitions.
New Four-Day Format Without Cut
New for the upcoming season: All tournaments will span four days from Thursday to Sunday, covering 72 holes. The popular 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. At the same time, each individual round counts fully toward the team score. The team with the lowest combined score wins the team title for the event.
New Points System: Every Point Matters in the Prize Money Race
Starting in 2026, LIV Golf introduces a more comprehensive point system. A total of 1,000 individual points are awarded per event, with the winner receiving 200 points. Crucially, every placement earns points, replacing the previous all-or-nothing system.
There is also a shift in team scoring. While previously only the top 8 teams earned points, now all teams will be rewarded. The winning team gets 30 points, second place 15, and even the last place team receives two points. This ensures every team remains competitive until the end.
The financial stakes grow significantly as well: the weekly team prize pool doubles from five to ten million dollars. From 2026 onwards, all teams receive prize money based on their ranking, not just the top finishers. Additionally, a new individual prize money model awards 2.3 million euros each week to the top individual players on the podium teams. Overall, 470 million euros in prize money are available this season.
After 13 regular events, the individual champion is crowned based on total points. But it’s about more than just a title: every placement affects prize money, contract status, and future participation in the league with a tiered categorization.
Lock Zone (Positions 1-34) guarantees a contract offer for the following season.
Open Zone (Positions 35-46) allows continued participation without a contract guarantee.
Drop Zone (Positions 47-57) players must requalify through relegation to keep their spot.