The race to avoid relegation is heating up on LIV Golf League, with a number of stars battling to avoid the drop zone.
The race to avoid the drop zone is heating up on the LIV Golf League with a number of stars in a precarious position with a handful of events left on the schedule for 2024.
Of the standout names in danger of losing their status on LIV Golf this season, two members of Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces GC in Pat Perez and Harold Varner III are close to the drop zone.
They should just about be okay to remain on LIV Golf, but much will depend on how those behind them in the standings get on over the remaining events.
South Africa’s out-of-form Branden Grace is arguably the biggest name in danger of losing his place on Stinger GC, although much will depend whether captain Louis Oosthuizen wants to stick faith with him in 2025.
Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII member Kieran Vincent will need a big performance quickly to prevent him from being axed from the Saudi-backed circuit.
His brother Scott also looks down and out.
Should a player face the drop zone (and be out of contract) come the end of the season, then they will need to tee it up in the LIV Golf Promotions event later on in the year in order to play their way back onto LIV Golf for 2025.
Scroll down the page to view how the drop zone is shaping up with just three more events until the Individual Championship, which is then followed by theTeam Championship…
Branden Grace is badly out of form in 2024
Branden Grace is badly out of form in 2024
As it stands on LIV Golf, the individual standings are broken down into three categories, with final positions determining a player’s status in the league:
Lock Zone: Players finishing in the Top 24 secure an opportunity with the league next season
Open Zone: Players finishing 25-48 whose contracts are expiring become free agents
Drop Zone: Players finishing 49 and below are relegated out of the league and automatically qualify for LIV Golf Promotions for the chance to earn their spot back next season
It’s important to note that captains or players with years remaining on their contract are exempt from relegation.
That means the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson are all still safe on LIV Golf for 2025, albeit Mickelson did recently hint at the possibility of retirement from the game.
Some of you may also be wondering why Anthony Kim isn’t in the drop zone below, but that’s because he was added as a wildcard earlier this season.
It remains to be seen whether LIV Golf want to stick or twist with AK for 2025, but from what we gather, he will remain on the circuit as he bids to improve his game on the comeback trail from his lengthy spell away from the Tour.
Here’s a look at the players most in danger of being relegated from LIV Golf ahead of the 2025 season…
PLAYERS ON VERGE OF RELEGATION (AS OF JUNE 2024)
45 Danny Lee 8.40
46 Jinichiro Kozuma 8.40
47 Pat Perez 7.76
48 Harold Varner III 7.00
LIV GOLF DROP ZONE 2024
49 Laurie Canter 4.30
50 Bubba Watson (c) – exempt 3.66
51 Kalle Samooja 3.40
52 Branden Grace 3.22
53 Kieran Vincent 2.47
54 Scott Vincent 1.57
You can view the full standings here ahead of the next tournament in Andalucia, Spain, from 12-14 July.
That falls a week before The Open.
LIV Golf then heads to UK at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire from 26-28 July.
The PGA Tour is understood to be closer than ever to confirming its commercial agreement with LIV Golf’s bankrollers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund
