The LIV Golf League has shaken up the world of golf more than any other announcement in the sport’s long history.
Since its inception in June 2022, it has seen some of the best players in the world compete for the incredible prize money on offer.
We wanted to spend a bit of time getting to know about the LIV Golf League – what it is, who plays, what’s the format, the schedule and delve into the recent merger with the PGA Tour.
And, to cap it all off, we’ll look at how you could be there yourself to watch LIV Golf Events.
What is the LIV Golf League?
LIV Golf is a professional golf tour, a bit like the PGA Tour, but with some key differences.
For a start there are fewer tournaments, more prize money on offer and the players are divided into teams. The idea is that every player’s score will count, no matter how they are doing in a specific competition.
After a mixed reception initially, the tour has attracted some of the best players in the world from the very top of the Official World Golf Rankings – many attracted by the incredible prize funds, as well as being able to rest for longer periods opposed to the week after week nature of the PGA Tour.
The LIV Golf League is owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and run by CEO, Greg Norman – a legend of the game.
What is the format?
LIV Golf Events are shorter than those on the PGA Tour – consisting of three rounds rather than four. That equates to 54 Holes, which explains why it is called the ‘LIV’ Golf League – LIV is 54 in Roman numerals.
There are 48 players in each tournament, split across 12 teams. There are no cuts in the middle of an event – every player plays for the entire competition. Each round involves a ‘Shotgun Start’ which means that players start their rounds at the same time on different holes throughout the course, meaning there is action everywhere from the first moment.
It’s all geared towards a more action-packed golf tournament to excite the fans.
Which players compete?
Some of the best players in the world are now LIV Golf participants, including the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio García, Phil Mickelson – some of the biggest names in golf.
Recently, reigning Masters champion, Ryder Cup hero and world number 3 Jon Rahm made the decision to join.
Dustin Johnson won the inaugural season in terms of prize money, earning $35,637,767, while Talor Gooch won in 2023, earning $39,507,512.
Which teams compete?
Of the 12 teams that take part in the Team Championship, the one that has attracted the most attention from UK fans is Majesticks GC.
The team consists of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Sam Horsfield – great names from the European Tour and European Ryder Cup Stars in years gone by.
The winning team in the 2023 season was the Crushers GC, consisting of Bryson DeChambeau, Anirban Lahiri, Charles Howell III and Englishman Paul Casey.
When and where does the LIV Golf Tour play?
The tour goes to some of the greatest golf courses all over the world. The 2024 season opener is in Mexico and throughout the season they will head to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, the UK and Spain.
The season runs from February to August, and is designed to work around the Major championships, so that the players that qualify can take part.
What does the recent merger with the PGA Tour mean?
After a somewhat frosty relationship, the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Investments announced a merger, which includes the DP World Tour.
As things stand, we don’t really know exactly how the merger will impact the golf world, but it may be a way for the two entities to co-exist harmoniously with potentially more opportunities for players to play on both tours.
How to get tickets for LIV Golf London
We are delighted to be official partners with the Majesticks GC team, and as such we will be able to offer official Majesticks GC ticket packages to guarantee your spot at the UK LIV Golf event. It’s a wonderful spectacle for a golf fan.
If you are interested in these packages, get in touch with us today and you can be the first to hear about them.
