LIV Golf announces enlarged field and increased relegation amid chase for Official World Golf Ranking points

LIV Golf have confirmed tweaks for 2026 that seem geared toward supporting the competitors’s utility to obtain Official World Golf Rating factors.

LIV already had introduced it was increasing to 72 holes after 4 years of 54-hole tournaments that led to the identify – LIV is the Roman quantity for 54 – of the Saudi-funded league.

On Wednesday, they confirmed extra gamers can be relegated from an enlarged subject, with a rise to 11 from the six that have been relegated in 2025.

The announcement got here because the Official World Golf Rating board was assembly with subjects on the agenda, together with LIV’s utility to get rating factors. It additionally got here on the identical day former Masters champion Patrick Reed introduced he was following fellow American star Brooks Koepka in leaving LIV to return to the PGA Tour.

“The modifications we’re introducing for 2026 are about rewarding consistency, strengthening group golf and creating clearer pathways for gamers to earn their place and progress inside the league,” mentioned Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf.

He mentioned the modifications – 72 holes, increasing the sphere by three gamers and the expanded factors system – could be a transparent sign that efficiency issues.

“We imagine this evolution makes LIV Golf extra aggressive, extra clear and, finally, extra thrilling for gamers, groups and followers all over the world,” O’Neil mentioned.

LIV’s most notable change is increasing its “Lock Zone” from the highest 24 gamers to the highest 34 gamers. These are assured to be within the league the next 12 months.

The “Open Zone” loses two spots – from the highest 48 to the highest 46 gamers who’re free to vary groups however should not assured being within the league.

Anybody ending past forty seventh place can be relegated, down from these exterior the highest 48.

“These modifications improve the turnover and meritocratic pathways into the league, improve the aggressive rigidity all through the season, replicate the elevated subject measurement in 2026 and are designed to supply higher readability round season-long efficiency benchmarks,” O’Neil mentioned.

LIV additionally will award factors to each participant within the subject, as a substitute of simply the highest 24. Joaquin Niemann gained 5 occasions final season however completed second to Jon Rahm – who didn’t win – as a result of there have been two tournaments the place the Chilean didn’t earn factors. The factors additionally can be larger for the highest finishers.

LIV beforehand introduced the overall prize fund goes as much as $30m, with the group prize doubling to $10m. Whereas the $20m particular person purse would not change, LIV will present $2.3m at every occasion for high performers whose groups are within the high three.

The season begins on February 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Meritocracy was a chief concern because the OWGR thought-about whether or not to incorporate LIV Golf. A majority of the gamers have been below contract, and the turnover share was far decrease than different excursions which are a part of the OWGR system.

Whereas a vote on LIV was not believed to be a part of the agenda, there was a probability of a call by the tip of this week.

LIV started in 2022 with 12 groups and 48 gamers. It since has expanded to 13 groups and 5 gamers who’re unattached and earned their manner by way of a qualifying occasion and the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Sequence.