LIV Golf "Promotion and Relegation System to Start Next Year"... "What About Lower Ranked Players?"

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "14 tournaments with a total prize money of $405 million (5.302 trillion KRW)."

LIV Golf, led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced on the 28th (Korean time) that it will expand the 2023 season LIV Golf Invitational Series to 14 events. This nearly doubles the total prize money from this year's 8 events, which amounted to $255 million (333.7 billion KRW). The format remains the same, with only 48 players participating and team competitions included. Despite the PGA Tour's tough stance, including expelling affiliated players, LIV Golf appears to be growing by leveraging 'oil money.'

Players cannot help but be tempted. Contrary to initial expectations that it would become an 'old boys league' for players less competitive on the PGA Tour, notable players such as Dustin Johnson, 'The Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed (all from the U.S.), and 'Open Champion' Cameron Smith (Australia) have joined one after another. Johnson, in particular, has earned a staggering ?100 million (159 billion KRW), playing a key role as a major attraction.

It is interesting that LIV Golf is considering a 'promotion and relegation system' starting next year. While the top 24 players have no issues, among the remaining 24, team captains will select 20 players, and the bottom 4 in the prize money rankings will be automatically eliminated. There is a high probability that an independent qualifying (Q) school will be introduced. The system would involve a 36-hole stroke play to select 3 players, plus 1 player who tops the Asian Tour LIV International Series prize money, advancing to the next year. For lower-ranked players, LIV Golf is also a tough 'survival competition.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.