How does LIV Golf’s offseason window for player movement and free agency work? All you need to know
LIV Golf is in its off-season, and the window for player transfers and free agency has started. All teams will have the opportunity to transfer players who have fallen outside the lock zone. Additionally, the top 24 players in the standings who have opted for free agency can also be traded during this phase.
Following the conclusion of the LIV season, the top 24 players finished inside the lock zone and were guaranteed spots for the next season. Players in the locked zone whose contracts were expiring were given a minimum of a one-year contract. However, some players might choose to opt out of their contracts and enter free agency.
Besides these 24 locked players, those ranked between 25 and 48 whose contracts have ended, will also become free agents. They will have the option to either re-sign with the same team or negotiate with other teams.
Teams with open spots will have the option to:
- Sign a free-agent player who finished inside the top 24 or a player in the open zone whose contract has expired.
- Trade a player from a different team if both teams agree.
- Sign a wildcard player.
- Sign the winner from the International Series.
- Sign the LIV Golf Promotions 2024 winner.
- Sign a player who was not a member of LIV in 2024.
International Series
The International Series is also nearing its conclusion during the LIV Golf off-season. The winner of the season-ending standings will earn qualification for the 2025 season. As of now, John Catlin, who has also played in several LIV events this season, is leading the standings.
Three events remain, and players still have the opportunity to compete for the top spot. Here are the three remaining tournaments:
- LINK Hong Kong Open (November 21-24)
- International Series Qatar (November 27-30)
- PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers (December 4-7)
LIV Golf Promotions
Besides the International Series, the LIV Golf Promotions is also set to take place during the off-season. The qualifying event of the Saudi-backed circuit will be held from December 12 to 14 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia's capital. The event will feature four stroke-play rounds played over three days, with the final day including 36 holes of play.
The overall purse size of the promotions event is $1.5 million. The top 10 finishers will earn exemptions for the International Series next season, while the winner will receive a Saudi backed Tour's card.
Who are the players in the locked zone after the conclusion of the LIV Golf 2024 season?
Here are the names inside the locked zone after the 2024 season:
- Jon Rahm
- Joaquin Niemann
- Sergio Garcia
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Brooks Koepka
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Cameron Smith
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Dean Burmester
- Talor Gooch
- Paul Casey
- Abraham Ancer
- Carlos Ortiz
- Dustin Johnson
- Marc Leishman
- Anirban Lahiri
- Adrian Meronk
- Matthew Wolff
- Richard Bland
- Patrick Reed
- Charl Schwartzel
- Jason Kokrak
- Sebastián Muñoz
- Brendan Steele