LIV Golf - the controversial and divisive rival to the PGA Tour - has announced it will officially launch the sport’s inaugural global league in 2023 which will see relegation and a Grand Final incorporated into the tournament’s structure.
The Saudi-backed series launched this year amid plenty of fanfare and criticism and it has confirmed it will return in 2023 as the rebranded LIV Golf League. There will reportedly be £337 million available in potential prize money, as well as the opportunity for promotion and relegation for the leading players in the world.
The inaugural league will also feature a franchise system as 12 teams to be led by one established ’Team Captain’ each, who will compete and have the ability to build their franchises through sponsorship. Players will represent teams and compete over 14 events in simultaneous individual and team play, with each season set to end with a Team World Championship match play finale.
“LIV Golf's expanding global platform will add a new dimension to the golf ecosystem as we know it, one that provides an opportunity for players and fans around the world to help maximise our beloved sport's true potential,” said Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf. “Our franchise model will bring new energy and excitement to fans from all corners of the world, establishing a league of teams to connect and grow with.
“The International Series will attract new talent and offer unprecedented pathways that develop the next generation of stars. LIV Golf is committed to making sustainable investments that grow the game now and for the future, and we are proud to turn these dreams into a reality.”
Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Branden Grace secured a two-stroke victory at the second LIV Golf event - which took place in Portland, Oregon - to earn a £3.37 million payout, more than the £2.08 million awarded to Australian Cameron Smith for securing the coveted Open title last week.
LIV Golf League players will also be expected to compete in the International Series events, which means the entire LIV Golf series will host 25 tournaments on a global scale. The proposed plan gives amateurs and rising stars the chance to earn promotion to the LIV Golf League, replacing relegated players.
In making the announcement, the organisation have declared the 14-event schedule will not clash with golf’s four Majors, heritage events or international team events, such as the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. LIV Golf also claim players will have the freedom to decide where they want to play.
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Players who have joined the LIV Golf series - which is bankrolled by a Saudi Arabian government renowned for their human rights abuses - were handed immediate and indefinite bans from the PGA Tour, while the DP World Tour have implied they will fine the rebels and suspend them from future events but they haven’t issued a ban just yet.
However, LIV Golf’s defectors may be barred from entering the four majors next year. Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, dismissed the breakaway competition as ‘entirely driven by money’ before suggesting the iconic body will ‘review our exemptions and qualifications criteria for the Open’.
One possibility being reportedly considered is the exclusion of players suspended from either the PGA or DP World Tour. It would ultimately be considered an enormous blow to the hopes of rebels, particularly if the four majors work together to expel all such players.
