Mark Schlabach
The fourth LIV Golf season tees off beneath the lights Thursday at Riyadh Golf Membership in Saudi Arabia, with morning tee occasions for golf followers within the U.S.
The league’s most completed golfers, together with main champions Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith, are again, though the Saudi Arabian-financed circuit did not herald any high-profile gamers after raiding the PGA Tour the earlier three years.
That is not the one factor that has modified for the breakaway league. LIV Golf has a brand new CEO, scoring format, community TV deal and a half-dozen new full-time gamers.
Listed below are some storylines to observe as LIV Golf kicks off its fourth season.
Opener beneath the lights
All three rounds of the LIV Golf season opener will likely be performed beneath the lights in Saudi Arabia, with the shotgun begin happening at 6:15 p.m. native time (10:15 a.m. ET) on Thursday and Friday and 6:05 p.m. (10:05 ET) on Saturday.
“Clearly, we’re all going to have our shortcomings as a result of we’re not used to it,” Legion XIII captain Rahm instructed reporters in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. “We have by no means accomplished it. Again dwelling there is a par-3 course that’s lit at evening which you could go and play, however there is a distinction between making an attempt to hit a pitching wedge and a driver. It is a complete totally different really feel. However I feel it is going to be fairly particular.”
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Together with adjusting to the time zone distinction, LIV golfers must deal with shadows and depth notion challenges with floodlights offering them illumination at Riyadh Golf Membership.
“The depth notion will not be the identical as through the day, so you have to modify to that,” Torque GC captain JoaquÃn Niemann mentioned. “I really feel like every little thing enjoying at evening is a bit bit totally different. It isn’t regular to lookup and see a moon as an alternative of the solar. I really feel like that has to vary a bit bit. You’ll be able to possibly ask Bryson [DeChambeau] if that will change the air density, or …”
New format
For the primary time within the circuit’s historical past, LIV Golf groups must rely every of their 4 gamers’ scores in every of the three rounds of their general group whole. Final season, groups may drop their highest rating in every of the primary two rounds, however needed to embody all three within the closing one.
“I prefer it,” Rahm mentioned. “I feel it advantages a group like ours. I feel we now have 4 actually sturdy gamers which can be actually constant. So I feel it is higher for the league basically for everyone to matter each single day as a result of Sunday is often actually, actually enjoyable. No less than final yr it was extremely enjoyable in that regard.”
Final season, there have been 31 non-counting scores of 77 or worse, in response to LIV Golf. The league mentioned six tournaments would have had totally different winners if all 4 scores had counted in every of the three rounds in 2024, and one other one would have been determined in a playoff.
“I feel it is going to convey much more stress into each group,” Niemann mentioned. “I really feel like having each man of their finest type and having each shot rely goes to convey the perfect model of each participant. I feel it is going to be nice. The competitors degree goes to get increased.”
There is a new man in cost
New LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil changed Greg Norman, who launched and oversaw the circuit since its inception in 2021.
O’Neil was beforehand the CEO at Merlin Leisure and Harris Blitzer Sports activities & Leisure, which controls the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.
PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy, an outspoken critic of Norman the previous few years, known as his departure a “good transfer.”
“Greg took a number of flak the primary couple of years,” McIlroy mentioned ultimately month’s Dubai Desert Traditional. “He’s most likely one of many solely guys in golf who may have taken on that function. He acquired it off the bottom, and it’s important to commend him for that. Now it is time for somebody with a bit extra expertise to take over.
“I actually do not know what the longer term holds for [LIV], however the transfer they’re making, particularly from an government standpoint, it would not seem like they will go away anytime quickly.”
It has been greater than a yr for the reason that PGA Tour’s framework settlement with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund expired Dec. 31, 2023. The edges have continued to barter a possible deal by which the PIF would make investments about $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises.
Sources have instructed ESPN that the potential settlement is being reviewed by the U.S. Division of Justice’s antitrust division. The edges are persevering with to hammer out precisely how LIV Golf gamers can be allowed to return to PGA Tour competitors, and the way group golf would slot in the sport sooner or later.
Norman, a two-time Open Championship winner, was anticipated to proceed in some function with LIV Golf. He just lately joined the organizing committee for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.
“Yeah, it is a bizarre one for me, clearly, getting very near Greg the final couple years,” Ripper GC captain Smith mentioned Wednesday. “I feel he is accomplished a very nice job. He is taken a number of bullets for the tour, and I do not know many different individuals that might have accomplished that, to be trustworthy.”
There are substitutes
As a result of groups must report 4 scores in every of the three rounds, LIV Golf has a brand new substitution coverage. If a participant withdraws throughout a spherical, his group might choose one of many out there reserve gamers to finish the spherical. If a participant withdraws earlier than ending a gap, the reserve will put his ball in play on the identical spot as the unique participant.
If a participant withdraws throughout a spherical, he can return to competitors for subsequent rounds. He’ll be capable of take part in solely the group competitors, not within the particular person one.
New (however not so acquainted) faces
LIV Golf did not make one other splash by poaching a high-profile golfer from the PGA Tour, because it did when it signed Rahm on the finish of 2023. There are six new full-time golfers: Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup (Cleeks GC), Spain’s Luis Masaveu (Fireballs GC), South Korea’s Yubin Jang (Iron Heads GC), Northern Eire’s Tom McKibbin (Legion XIII), New Zealand’s Ben Campbell (RangeGoats GC) and Taiwan’s Chieh-Po Lee (wild-card participant).
McKibbin, 22, was maybe LIV Golf’s greatest prize within the offseason. He gained on the DP World Tour on the Porsche European Open in June 2023, then earned his PGA Tour card through the Race to Dubai final fall.
McKibbin performed on the identical course as PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy, Holywood Golf Membership in Northern Eire. However McKibbin ignored McIlroy’s recommendation by signing with LIV Golf.
“I mentioned to him, ‘If I have been in your footwear, I might make a special selection than the one you are pondering of constructing,'” McIlroy instructed reporters on the Dubai Desert Traditional. “Working so arduous to get your tour card within the States, to attain that aim final yr was an enormous achievement. I feel what he probably is sacrificing and giving up with entry to majors, potential Ryder Cup spot relying on how he would play … if I have been in his place and I had his potential, which I feel I’ve been earlier than, I would not make that call.”
McKibbin, who’s ranked 109th on this planet, mentioned lacking the majors and Ryder Cup wasn’t a lot of a consider his determination as a result of he hadn’t but certified for any of them.
“It was positively in my thoughts, however to me, I wasn’t in any of these anyway,” McKibbin mentioned. “Once more, the chance to get to play with guys out right here extra usually, extra persistently was positively an enormous issue. I am not in these majors anyway on the minute, so it actually did not hassle me an excessive amount of.”
McKibbin changed Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra, who wasn’t retained by Legion XIII.
Mickelson on the mend
One of many reserve gamers out there in Saudi Arabia, Ollie Schniederjans, will substitute HyFlyers captain Phil Mickelson, who will not play due to a shoulder harm.
In a press release on X, Mickelson mentioned he suffered a minor harm whereas understanding within the fitness center. He expects to compete within the second LIV Golf event in Australia on Feb. 14-16.
On Sunday, Schniederjans, who has battled myriad accidents the previous few seasons, captured his first victory in 9 years when he gained an Worldwide Collection event in India on the Asian Tour. With a four-stroke victory over DeChambeau, the previous Georgia Tech star climbed from No. 734 within the Official World Golf Rating to 265th.
Different reserves out there in Saudi Arabia are John Catlin, Wade Ormsby, Max Rottluff and Khaled Attieh.
LIV Golf groups
4 Aces: Dustin Johnson (captain), Patrick Reed, Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters2024 end: T2nd
Cleeks Golf Membership: Martin Kaymer (captain), Richard Bland, Adrian Meronk, Frederik Kjettrup2024 end: eleventh
Crushers GC: Bryson DeChambeau (captain), Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri2024 end: T7th
Fireballs GC: Sergio Garcia (captain), Abraham Ancer, Luis Masaveu, David Puig2024 end: sixth
HyFlyers GC: Phil Mickelson (captain), Andy Ogletree, Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale2024 end: T7th
Iron Heads GC: Kevin Na (captain), Yubin Jang, Jinichiro Kozuma, Danny Lee2024 end: T2nd
Legion XIII: Jon Rahm (captain), Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Caleb Surratt2024 end: 4th
Majestics GC: Ian Poulter (co-captain), Henrik Stenson (co-captain), Lee Westwood (co-captain), Sam Horsfield2024 end: ninth
RangeGoats GC: Bubba Watson (captain), Ben Campbell, Peter Uihlein, Matthew Wolff2024 end: twelfth
Ripper GC: Cameron Smith (captain), Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman2024 end: 1st
Smash GC: Brooks Koepka (captain), Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell2024 end: thirteenth
Stinger GC: Louis Oosthuizen (captain), Dean Burmester, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel2024 end: fifth
Torque GC: Joaquin Niemann (captain), Sebastián Muñoz, Carlos Ortiz, Mito Pereira2024 end: tenth
Wildcard gamers: Anthony Kim, Chieh-Po Lee
2025 schedule
LIV Golf RiyadhWhere: Riyadh Golf Membership, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaWhen: Thursday-Saturday
LIV Golf AdelaideWhere: The Grange Golf Membership, Adelaide, AustraliaWhen: Feb. 14-16Defending champion: Brendan Steele
LIV Golf Hong KongWhere: Hong Kong Golf Membership, Fanling, Hong KongWhen: March 7-9Defending champion: Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf SingaporeWhere: Sentosa Golf Membership (Serapong Course), SingaporeWhen: March 14-16Defending champion: Brooks Koepka
LIV Golf MiamiWhere: Trump Nationwide Doral Golf Course, MiamiWhen: April 4-6Defending champion: Dean Burmester
LIV Golf Mexico CityWhere: Membership De Golf Chapultepec, Mexico Metropolis, MexicoWhen: April 25-27
LIV Golf KoreaWhere: Jack Nicklaus Golf Membership Korea, Incheon, South KoreaWhen: Could 2-4
LIV Golf Washington DCWhere: Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership, Gainesville, VirginiaWhen: June 6-8Defending champion: Harold Varner III
LIV Golf DallasWhere: Maridoe Golf Membership, Carrollton, TexasWhen: June 27-29
LIV Golf AndaluciaWhere: Actual Membership Valderrama, Sotogrande, SpainWhen: July 11-13Defending champion: Sergio Garcia
LIV Golf United KingdomWhere: JCB Golf and Nation Membership, Rocester, EnglandWhen: July 25-27Defending champion: Jon Rahm
LIV Golf ChicagoWhere: Bolingbrook Golf Membership, Bolingbrook, IllinoisWhen: Aug. 8-10Defending champion: Jon Rahm
LIV Golf IndianapolisWhere: The Membership at Chatham Hills, Westfield, IndianaWhen: Aug. 15-17
LIV Golf Michigan – Match PlayWhere: The Cardinal at Saint John’s, Plymouth, MichiganWhen: Aug. 22-23
LIV Golf Michigan – Stroke PlayWhere: The Cardinal at Saint John’s, Plymouth, MichiganWhen: Aug. 24
