LIV Golf has announced a series of competition and format updates for the 2026 season, aimed at strengthening competitive integrity, rewarding season-long performance and accelerating the growth of team golf as a central pillar of the League. The 2026 LIV Golf League season will begin under the lights at ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh, hosted at Riyadh Golf Club from February 4–7.
The changes, developed following feedback from players, teams and stakeholders, underscore LIV Golf’s long-term vision as a global league built around both individual excellence and team success. Among the headline updates is the move to 72-hole tournaments, aligning LIV Golf more closely with the wider professional golf calendar while preserving its distinctive fan-focused atmosphere.
Field size will also expand in 2026, increasing from 54 to 57 players. The additional spots will be filled through five Wild Card positions, awarded via performances on the International Series and LIV Golf Promotions, creating clearer and more merit-based pathways into the League and enhancing global representation.
To further reward consistency across the season, LIV Golf is revising its season-long individual standings structure. The Lock Zone will expand to include the top 34 players, while positions 35 to 46 will fall into the Open Zone. The Drop Zone, which determines relegation, will grow significantly to include players finishing 47th to 57th in the standings. The updated thresholds increase competitive tension throughout the season and reflect the League’s expanded field.
An enhanced points system will also be introduced in 2026, increasing the total number of points available and awarding points to all finishing positions, with greater emphasis placed on top performers. The revised structure is designed to better capture sustained high-level performance while highlighting the importance of individual contributions to team results each week.
Enhanced points system
LIV Golf is also making a significant investment in its team model. Weekly team prize payouts will double from US$5 million to US$10 million, with all 13 teams earning prize money each week based on finishing position, rather than only the top three. In addition, a new US$2.3 million per-event prize pool will reward individual performances within podium-finishing teams. Across the 14-event season, total individual and team prize money will reach US$470 million in 2026.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said the updates are designed to reward consistency, strengthen team competition and create clearer pathways for players to earn and retain their place in the League. He added that the changes reflect a single guiding principle: sustained performance, both individually and collectively, should matter week in and week out.
The 2026 updates mark the next phase in LIV Golf’s evolution, combining its signature fan-first approach with enhanced competitive credibility, expanded opportunity and continued investment in the long-term value of teams and players. The season-opening event in Riyadh will set the stage for another global campaign of elite individual and team competition.
