Nina Caldwell
LIV Golf is a new golf tour that is reinvigorating the game with a unique format that prioritises team glory over personal achievements. The tour consists of 13 powerhouse teams, each led by an elite captain, and made up of four players. Over three days of competition, there are no cuts, keeping all players engaged from start to finish. The top 24 golfers on the leaderboard earn points, with the winner taking 40 points, second place receiving 30, and third place earning 24. The team competition further emphasises collaboration, with points awarded to the top eight teams, creating a dramatic and volatile atmosphere on the leaderboard. LIV Golf promises to deliver turbocharged, world-class entertainment to golf enthusiasts worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 54 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Number of wildcards | 2 |
| Number of events | 13 |
| Number of days per event | 3 |
| Number of points for winner | 40 |
| Number of points for second place | 30 |
| Number of points for third place | 24 |
| Number of points for 21st-24th place | 1 |
| Number of points for first place team | 32 |
| Number of points for second place team | 24 |
| Number of points for third place team | 16 |
| Number of points for 8th place team | 1 |
| Season dates | February to August |
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What You'll Learn
LIV Golf League Format
The LIV Golf League is a professional men's golf tour financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The name "LIV" refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events. The league features 54 players and 13 teams from around the world, which compete in a 14-event season for the Individual Championship and Team Championship. The 14 events are held from February to August, from Friday to Sunday, with no cuts, meaning all 54 players are in the game from start to finish.
The LIV Golf Team Championship uses both match play and stroke play. For the play-ins, quarterfinals, and semifinals, it’s match play: two individual (1 vs. 1) contests per match, and one alternate-shot foursomes contest (2 vs. 2). On Sunday, it switches to stroke play, with each team playing together and all four of their scores counting as one. The final round features a move back to stroke play, where all four scores count toward the team total.
The format creates a blend of instant drama and a nerve-shredding final round as fortunes twist and turn, and the leaderboard keeps shifting until one final team claims the Team Championship. The Team Championship is decided in a winner-takes-all showdown, with the thrill of match play and the drama of survive-and-advance competition. After a Wednesday play-in match between the two lowest-seeded teams, twelve of LIV Golf’s 13 teams will contest this season’s decider. The losing teams stay on to compete for points (and prize money).
The league has a prize fund of $405 million, with the winning team of the Team Championship taking home $14 million ($3.5 million each). Every place in the final standings determines each player’s status with the league for the following season, with players divided into the Lock Zone (top 24 places), the Open Zone (25-48), and the Drop Zone (49 and below).
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Number of Players
LIV Golf is a new golf tour that is creating new champions while reinvigorating the game. The tour consists of 54 players spread across 13 teams, with each team consisting of four players. This means that there are 52 players attached to a team, with two additional wildcard players. Each event begins with a shotgun start, meaning that there will be 18 groups of players, with each group starting at a different hole at the same time.
During each round of the tournament, which lasts three days, all four players' scores count for each team. This adds pressure to each player and increases the drama and volatility of the team leaderboard. After the three days, one team is crowned the winner. Points are also awarded to the top eight teams to determine seeding for the Team Championship finale.
The Individual Championship standings are finalised after the 13th event of the year, just before the Team Championship's end-of-season showdown. The top 24 golfers on the leaderboard after three days will earn points, with the winner taking 40 points, second place receiving 30, and third place earning 24. For the remainder of the golfers, there is a sliding scale of scores down to 21st to 24th place, who each earn one point.
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Scoring System
The LIV Golf League is creating new champions and reinvigorating the game with its unique format. The season runs from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale. Each of the 13 teams consists of four players, led by elite captains, with the shared mission of providing world-class entertainment.
LIV Golf's scoring system is designed to encourage teamwork and create a dramatic, volatile leaderboard. Over the three tournament days, all four players' scores count for each round, keeping every player engaged and increasing pressure. There are no cuts, so every player is in the game from start to finish.
Points are awarded to individuals and teams. After three days, the top 24 golfers on the leaderboard earn points, with the winner taking 40 points, second place earning 30, and third place earning 24. The remaining golfers down to 21st-24th place earn one point each.
For the team competition, the top eight teams out of the 13 earn points. The winning team receives 32 points, the runners-up get 24, and third place earns 16. Again, there is a sliding scale of points down to eighth place, which gets one point.
The Individual Championship standings are finalised after the 13th event, ahead of the Team Championship finale. This finale consists of a play-in match between the 12th and 13th-seeded teams, followed by three days of eliminator golf: quarterfinals, semifinals, and a decisive clash between the top three teams on Championship Sunday.
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Season Schedule
The 2026 LIV Golf schedule will run from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale. Each of the 13 teams will consist of four players, led by elite captains, with the shared goal of delivering world-class entertainment and finishing first.
The season will span 14 global locations, with each event beginning with a shotgun start, meaning 18 groups of players will be spread across the course at each hole, teeing off simultaneously. Over three days of competition, there will be no cuts, keeping all players in the game from start to finish.
Points are awarded to the top 24 golfers on the leaderboard, with the winner receiving 40 points, second place earning 30, and third place taking home 24. For the remaining places, there is a sliding scale of scores down to 21st-24th places, who each earn one point.
The top eight teams also earn points, with 32 going to the winning team, 24 to the runner-up, and 16 to the third-place team. This sliding scale continues down to 8th place, which receives one point. The Individual Championship standings are determined after the 13th event, ahead of the Team Championship finale.
The Team Championship finale consists of a play-in match between the 12th and 13th-seeded teams, followed by three days of eliminator golf, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final clash between the top three teams on Championship Sunday.
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Team Championship Finale
The LIV Golf League is creating new golfing champions and reinvigorating the game with a unique format that focuses on team play. The league consists of 13 powerhouse teams, each with four players led by elite captains. The season runs from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by the Team Championship finale.
Each tournament starts with a shotgun start, meaning 18 groups of players are spread across the course, teeing off simultaneously from different holes. Over three days of competition, there are no cuts, so every player is involved from start to finish. For the team competition, the top eight teams out of the 13 earn points, with 32 going to the winning team, 24 to the runners-up, and 16 for third place. The points then scale down to one point for 8th place.
The Team Championship finale is a winner-take-all shootout. It begins with a Wednesday play-in match between the 12th and 13th-seeded teams in the regular-season standings. The weekend then features three days of eliminator golf: quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final match between the top three teams on Championship Sunday.
LIV Golf's format adds drama and volatility to the team leaderboard. With all four players' scores counting for each round, the pressure is on every player to perform for their team. This format is a departure from traditional golf, where individual performance is the primary focus.
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Frequently asked questions
LIV Golf is a new global golf league with 54 players battling it out across 14 global locations.
There are 13 powerhouse teams, each consisting of four players, led by elite captains.
Each event begins with a shotgun start, with 18 groups of players spread around the course at each hole, teeing off simultaneously. Over three days of competition, there are no cuts, so every player is in the game.
The scores are tallied, and the winning team is celebrated on the podium. Points are also awarded to determine seeding for the Team Championship finale.
