LIV Golf’s next season could bring the biggest shake-up in its short history.
The league is expected to expand its Drop Zone in 2026, increasing the number of players at risk of losing their place on tour.
Flushing It Golf has reported that the Lock Zone may rise to 34 players, while the Drop Zone could reach nearly 20% of the field. That change would mean as many as 12 relegations.
It’s a move designed to add jeopardy, reward form, and bring the kind of competitive tension LIV Golf has often lacked.
Here are five popular players at risk of relegation from LIV Golf in the 2026 season.
Ian Poulter
One of LIV Golf’s founding figures, Ian Poulter has been central to its image but not to its leaderboards. His fiery competitiveness that once thrived in Ryder Cups has rarely translated to the LIV format.
Poulter’s best finishes have been scattered, and he’s yet to make a sustained charge against younger players.
If relegation widens in 2026, experience alone may not secure his spot. Poulter will need a resurgence in consistency to stay clear of the drop zone.
Lee Westwood
Lee Westwood entered LIV with an enormous pedigree but limited momentum, and his performances since have reflected that.
While still technically sound, he’s struggled to keep pace in a field that’s become steadily more competitive. His scoring averages remain among the lower tiers of LIV regulars, and his best weeks feel increasingly rare.
Westwood’s reliability was once his strength, but without top-10 finishes, that steadiness no longer guarantees safety. An expanded relegation field could turn his veteran status from an asset to a liability.
Martin Kaymer
Martin Kaymer has the credentials – a two-time major champion and former world number one – but his output in LIV events has been minimal.
Injury setbacks have disrupted his rhythm, and his measured style hasn’t meshed with LIV’s aggressive setups.
Kaymer’s leadership within his team has remained valuable, yet results have not followed. To survive, he will need a full season of healthy, competitive form rather than flashes of vintage quality.
Kevin Na
Kevin Na has long been known for precision and patience, but LIV’s fast-paced tournaments have tested both traits. His accuracy remains intact, yet his ability to contend late in events has diminished.
Na’s methodical approach often leaves him chasing distance on modern setups, where aggressiveness pays off more than consistency.
With an expanded Drop Zone, safe mid-pack results may no longer be enough to guarantee a place. For Na to avoid danger, he must translate consistency into contention more frequently in 2026.
Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell remains one of LIV’s most respected early signings, but his competitive form has faded.
Once a steady closer, McDowell has struggled to sustain momentum across three rounds, often losing ground late on Sundays. His ball-striking and putting, once elite, have trended downward, and the condensed schedule leaves little margin for recovery.
An expanded relegation format could be ruthless for aging players, and McDowell’s profile fits that risk. He’ll need to rediscover some of his major-winning sharpness to stay clear of the cut line.
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