LIV Golf has confirmed adjustments for 2026 that appear to be aimed at supporting competition applications to receive Official World Golf Ranking points.
LIV has already announced that the Saudi-funded league will expand to 72 holes after four years of 54-hole tournaments, which led to its name (LIV is the Roman numeral for 54).
On Wednesday they confirmed more players will be relegated from the expanded field, up from six to 11 in 2025.
The announcement came as the Official World Golf Rankings Committee discussed topics on its agenda, including LIV’s application to earn ranking points. It also comes on the same day that former Masters champion Patrick Reed announced he would follow fellow American star Brooks Koepka in leaving LIV and returning to the PGA Tour.
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Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir explains why Brooks Koepka could return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf under the new returning member program.
“The changes we are introducing in 2026 will reward consistency, strengthen team golf and create a clearer path for players to progress and earn their place within the league,” said Scott O’Neil, CEO of LIV Golf.
He said changes such as expanding the field to 72 holes, three players and expanding the points system would be a clear signal that performance matters.
“We believe this evolution will make LIV Golf more competitive, more transparent and ultimately more exciting for players, teams and fans around the world,” said O’Neil.
The most notable change to LIV is the expansion of the “Lock Zone” from the top 24 players to the top 34 players. Advancement to the league is guaranteed next year as well.
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Rory McIlroy has described LIV Golf’s decision to expand the event to 72 holes as ‘unusual’. The circuit was set up to be more suited to golf’s traditional tours, moving from three to four rounds.
The “open zone” is free to change teams, but loses two spots from the top 48 to the top 46, with no guaranteed place in the league.
Anyone who finishes 47th or higher will be demoted from anyone outside the top 48.
“These changes are designed to increase turnover and meritocratic pathways into the league, enhance competitive tension throughout the season, reflect increased field size for 2026, and provide greater clarity on season-wide performance benchmarks,” O’Neil said.
LIV will also award points to every player in the field other than the top 24. Joaquin Niemann won five times last season but finished second behind Jon Rahm. He didn’t win. Because there were two tournaments where the Chilean player did not score any points. Additionally, those who enter the top ranks will receive higher scores.
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Tiger Woods says Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is important for the game, explaining that fans want to see top players compete against each other, adding that it strengthens competition at the highest level.
LIV previously announced that total prize money would reach up to $30 million and team prize money would double to $10 million. The $20 million individual prize money will remain unchanged, but LIV will award $2.3 million for each event to the top performers whose teams finish in the top three.
The season begins on February 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meritocracy was a major concern when OWGR considered whether to include LIV Golf. The majority of players were under contract and turnover was much lower than other tours in the OWGR system.
A vote on LIV is not believed to be part of the agenda, but a decision was likely to be made by the end of this week.
LIV started in 2022 with 12 teams and 48 players. It has since expanded to 13 teams and 5 players, qualifying through qualifying events and the Asian Tour International Series.
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