LIV Golf 2026: Record prize money and new points system at the start of the season

A few days before the start of the season in Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf has announced extensive changes to its league model. While well-known professionals are leaving the Tour, the management around CEO Scott O'Neil is focusing on a significant increase in team prize money and a completely revised points system. The league is thus responding to criticism from the previous season and sharpening its sporting profile.

Squad upheaval: farewells and new identities at LIV Golf

Shortly before the first tee-off of the 2026 season on February 4 in Riyadh, the focus is on the personnel structure of LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, two of the most high-profile players, have confirmed their return to the PGA Tour. This bloodletting of star power has led to a reshuffle within the teams.

The league has seen a total of twelve personnel changes. For example, Frenchman Victor Perez has joined the Cleeks GC team around German captain Martin Kaymer. At the same time, the league is increasingly focusing on national identities: The former Stinger GC will in future compete as the South African-influenced Southern Guard GC, while the Iron Heads GC will rebrand as the Korean Golf Club. The field of participants will also be expanded to 57 players, with five wildcard places offering additional starting opportunities.

The new LIV Golf points system: focus on consistency

One of the key changes concerns the awarding of season points. In the past, only the top 24 players in a tournament were ranked, which meant that top performances were left without points if a player finished just outside the ranks.

From 2026, LIV Golf will introduce a broader distribution of points:

• Every place counts: All 57 players in the field will now receive points for the individual ranking.
• Weighting of the top: In future, the individual winner will receive 200 points instead of the previous 40.
• Team classification: In future, all 13 teams will also receive points in the team classification (30 points for the winner, 2 points for last place).

This adjustment is intended to ensure that the performance over the entire season is more accurately reflected and that sporting outliers at the bottom carry more weight.

Financial enhancement: team prize money doubled

In addition to the sporting classification, LIV Golf is investing heavily in the attractiveness of the team competition. The weekly prize money for the teams will be doubled from five to ten million US dollars.

The distribution formula is also changing: whereas the prize money was previously reserved for the three best teams, all 13 franchises will now share in the total pool based on their ranking. In addition, a new bonus pool of 2.3 million US dollars per event will be introduced to reward the individual performance of players whose teams finish on the podium. In total, the league will pay out a total of 470 million US dollars in prize money in the 2026 season.

Stricter relegation rules increase the pressure to perform

In order to strengthen sporting integrity, LIV Golf has adjusted the threshold values for remaining in the league. In future, the so-called performance zones will define the future of the professionals even more clearly:

1. Lock Zone (places 1-34): These players are guaranteed to play in the following season.
2. Open Zone (places 35-46): Players in this zone are not automatically set for the following year and must negotiate for new contracts.
3. Drop Zone (places 47-57): Anyone who finishes the season in this zone will be relegated directly or will have to qualify again via a relegation tournament.

Adaptation to international standards: 72 holes

These changes are accompanied by the previously announced change in format. From this season, all LIV Golf tournaments will be played over 72 holes and four days. This measure is seen as a decisive step towards promoting recognition by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and giving players access to world ranking points.

The season opener will take place at Riyadh Golf Club from February 4-7. You can follow the live scoring of the first LIV Golf Tournament 2026 LIVE here.