Is LIV Golf introducing qualification and relegation system to its league?

LIV Golf revamped its original structure ahead of its second season. The Saudi-backed series launched the LIV Golf League 2023 as a 14-event series. The series officials are now set to introduce a qualifying format and a relegation system.

LIV officials have revealed that the LIV Golf League 2024 season will have an extended format. According to reports, the event will allow major champions from the past five years, including the PGA Tour and DP World Tour winners, get exemptions.

The qualifier will be a 72-hole stroke-play event, unlike LIV Golf’s 54-hole format, and will be called the “LIV Golf Promotions Event.” The qualifier event is set to be rolled out sometime after the LIV Golf League’s second season finishes in Saudi Arabia in November.

@opinions_golf @GrowTheGolfGame @RamsayGolf The Asian Tour International Series is the qualifying process for LIV golf, another is one. Very narrow, but it exists. Also, a single Promotion event will offer 3 spots to the 2024 LIV Tour. That could be an option for DPWT players, if their OWGR is good enough.

LIV Officials confirm LIV Golf Promotions Event

LIV Golf officials have since confirmed the event’s extended format. According to them, the qualifier will allow more players into the league.

LIV officials wrote, as quoted by Golf Digest:

“The LIV Golf Promotions Event will ensure there is an open player pathway for golfers from across the ecosystem to gain exemption into the LIV Golf League.”

According to reports, three spots from LIV’s 48-player roster for the 2024 season will be up for grabs at the promotional event. As per LIV Golf, the qualifying tournament will include players finishing between No. 6-32 on the Asian Tour’s International Series rankings, winners of top amateur events like the U.S. and British Amateur championship, players from the top 200 in the Official World Golf Rankings and others from the top 20 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Winners of the Open Championship, U.S. Open, Masters, PGA Championship, 2023 Ryder Cup, and 2022 Presidents Cup members will also be allowed in the qualifier event.

While the selected players will play against each other for the spots available, the series will also introduce a relegation system to its existing roster. Based on the LIV’s season-long points standings, the top 24 players will remain untouched.

Meanwhile, golfers finishing between 25th and 44th in the final standings will be on the “transfer market” for teams to buy and sell. However, players finishing between 45th and 48th will be directly relegated out of the league.

Interestingly, players with multi-year contracts will remain on the field and the next-lowest-ranked player will be out.

Big plans announced for #LIVGolf in 2023

👥 12 team franchises
🏆 14 events
🌏 Worldwide venues
🔃 Promotion and relegation

@WestwoodLee and @IanJamesPoulter discuss

Full presser here: youtu.be/QFsVCWYkv2c https://t.co/nDlj0uPAml

LIV Golf Promotions Event exemption categories:

Players finishing in positions 2-32 of the 2023 International Series Rankings
Players finishing 6-32 of the International Series Rankings
Players finishing 2-5 of the International Series Rankings
Players finishing 45-48 of the 2023 Individual League Rankings
Winner of U.S. Amateur Championship
Winner of British Amateur Championship
Winner of NCAA D1 Individual Stroke-play Championship
Winner of Latin-America Amateur Championship
Winner of Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
Winner of European Amateur Championship
Winner of Eisenhower Individual Championship
Winner of Open Championship (since the year 2018)
Winner of U.S. Open (since the year 2018)
Winner of The Masters (since the year 2018)
Winner of PGA Championship (since the year 2018)
Members of the latest edition of the Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup
Top 200 ranked players of the Official World Golf Ranking
Top 20 ranked of the World Amateur Golf Rankings