Four new qualification opportunities: LIV Golf opens up (a little)

The LIV Golf League is entering the 2026 season with an expansion of its access routes, doubling the number of qualification places via the "Q-School" and the Asian Tour International Series. This strategic opening is not only intended to broaden the field of participants, but also to strengthen the league's legitimacy in the battle for recognition in the World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The league, which was previously often described as "closed", is responding to criticism and the need to offer ambitious professionals clear promotion opportunities. Both the LIV Golf Promotions qualifying tournament and the International Series will in future each award two permanent starting places for the coming season - a total of four new members.

The new format: LIV Golf Promotions moves to Florida

The most serious change concerns the qualifying tournament, which will no longer take place in the Middle East but in the USA:

• Location and date: The third edition of LIV Golf Promotions will be held at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, from January 8-11, 2026.
• Double chance: The two best-placed players after the four-day counting game will receive full playing rights for the LIV Golf League 2026. Previously, only the winner was guaranteed a place.
• Increased attractiveness: The relocation of the tournament to Florida should make it much easier for players based in America and ambitious talents from the minor leagues to take part. The event has also been expanded from 54 to 72 holes, which is more similar to the traditional Q-School structure of the established Tours.
• Financial incentive: The competition offers total prize money of 1.5 million US dollars. The winner alone receives 200,000 US dollars and the runner-up 150,000 US dollars.
• An important consolation prize: the top 10 of the tournament also secure full playing rights for the 2026 International Series, which builds an important bridge to professional golf.

Via Asia to LIV Golf: Two places in the International Series

Parallel to the promotional event, LIV Golf doubles the odds via the Asian Tour International Series:

• The promotion pathway: the top 2 players in the 2025 International Series standings (who are not yet eligible to compete for LIV) will receive a permanent place in the 2026 squad.
• Current situation: With Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe) and Miguel Tabuena (Philippines), the top two places before the two final tournaments (Moutai Singapore Open and PIF Saudi International) are fiercely contested.

Individual and team rankings: how the 2025 season went at LIV Golf

The strategic message to the OWGR

The extended qualification criteria are not only intended as a signal to up-and-coming players, but also as an important step in the ongoing effort to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The OWGR committee had rejected an initial application from LIV Golf in 2023 and criticized the league's lack of sporting permeability, among other things. The current doubling of qualification opportunities and the expansion of access routes directly address this criticism. However, it remains to be seen whether four qualifying places will be enough to change the decision-makers' minds.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil reiterated the league's direction: "LIV Golf continues to expand the pathways for players around the world to qualify for the first truly global golf league." He added that given the growing fan interest, it was only "natural" to facilitate access to the league for talented and ambitious players.

LIV Golf could possibly grow to 14 teams

The four additional permanent spots could potentially increase the total number of players in LIV Golf to 56 professionals (currently 54, including two individual wildcards). This number of players is sufficient to integrate a 14th team into the league. After Jon Rahm launched the 13th team, Legion XIII, in 2024, this move would be a logical sign of the format's continued growth and expansion.

Whether these changes will be enough to convince the OWGR panel remains to be seen. For professionals around the globe, however, they mean a more lucrative and now twice as big opportunity to become part of the LIV Golf League with its high prize money.