New York – LIV Golf today announced updates to its competition and format for the 2026 season, reinforcing the League’s commitment to elite competition, season-long performance and the continued growth of team golf as the sport’s most distinctive competitive format.
The updates follow feedback from players, teams and stakeholders, and align with LIV Golf’s long-term vision as a global league built around both individual excellence and team success. The announcement comes as LIV Golf prepares for another global season that will include South Africa on the 2026 calendar, underlining the country’s role in the League’s international footprint.
“Our continued mission is to build a league that grows the game of golf competitively, commercially and culturally,” said LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil. “The changes we’re introducing for 2026 are about rewarding consistency, strengthening team golf and creating clearer pathways for players to earn their place and progress within the League. Moving to 72 holes, expanding the field, increasing relegation, updating our points system and enhancing our investment in teams all reflect the same principle: if you perform week in and week out, individually and as part of a team, the performance matters.”
Among the key changes is an updated Lock Zone, Open Zone and Drop Zone structure within the season-long individual standings. From 2026, the Lock Zone will expand to the top 34 players, approximately 60 percent of the 57-player field. The Open Zone will include players finishing between 35th and 46th, while the Drop Zone will expand to positions 47th through 57th, increasing relegation and competitive turnover. The revised structure is intended to enhance competitive tension throughout the season while providing clearer performance benchmarks.
LIV Golf has also introduced an enhanced points system for 2026, increasing the total number of points distributed and awarding points to all finishing positions. Greater emphasis will be placed on top performers, while still recognising the importance of individual contributions to team results each week.
Team golf will receive further investment through increased prize funding. Weekly team prize payouts will double from five million dollars to ten million dollars per event, with all 13 teams earning prize money each week based on finishing position rather than only the top three. In addition, a new 2.3 million dollar per-event prize pool will reward individual player performances within podium-finishing teams. Across the 14-event season, total individual and team purses will amount to 470 million dollars in 2026.
From a competition format perspective, LIV Golf events will move to a 72-hole structure beginning in 2026, aligning the League more closely with the broader professional golf calendar while preserving its distinctive tournament atmosphere. The League will also expand its field to 57 players, up from 54, creating five Wild Card positions awarded through a combination of results on The International Series and LIV Golf Promotions.
The 2026 season will begin under the lights from February 4 to 7 with ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club, marking the start of another global season of individual and team competition that will again extend to South Africa.
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