Following the upcoming Ryder Cup, speculation will arise regarding which players LIV Golf will recruit for the 2026 season.
LIV Golf have now finished their fourth season, and even though big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm have helped boost their profile, there is no denying that the early buzz has faded.
There are still changes happening, though. The league told players that those who end up in the drop zone after 2025 will actually be relegated this time.
This came after a confusing decision last year when Branden Grace managed to keep his spot despite technically being relegated in 2024.
Why LIV Golf’s recruitment needs to deliver
Openings are still available through the Asian Tour and the Promotions Event, but LIV will know that a couple of big signings are needed in the months ahead. And not everyone is convinced they will manage it.
Eamon Lynch, writing for Golfweek, does not see much of a threat from LIV on this front.
He pointed out: “The league’s fourth season having concluded, we now commence the annual rumormongering about Yasir Al-Rumayyan doubling down and signing new stars. The PIF governor’s problem is that there are only a few players whose defections could impact LIV’s trajectory – Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth – and they’re not going anywhere.”
“That leaves LIV with the same dog-eared playbook: sign rising stars who haven’t risen enough to be considered actual stars, or perpetually injured journeymen whose absence from the PGA Tour would be noticed only by alert insurance adjusters. In short, guys tempted by a gilded retirement without the inconvenience of having to accomplish anything along the way.
“Al-Rumayyan may well spend to retain the services of those already hired, like Dustin Johnson, whose contract nears expiration, but that’s just buying time, not doubling down. He must know the current roster isn’t going to make LIV a success, that an audience of scale is non-existent, that sponsor and broadcaster interest is limited to companies PIF can strong-arm, or that don’t want to jeopardize other commercial interests in Saudi Arabia. Al-Rumayyan’s only parachute remains a seemingly improbable deal with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, which is why he jettisoned the widely unpopular Norman in the first place.”
LIV Golf’s fifth season begins with more questions than answers
That assessment from Lynch feels spot on. By now, most PGA Tour players have likely fielded offers from LIV. If they have not made the switch already, it is tough to see what would change their minds down the line.
LIV could always up their bids, and some players might be looking for a fresh start for various reasons. According to Scott O’Neil, LIV are still open to bringing in more talent from the PGA Tour.
But as Lynch points out, unless LIV manage to land names like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth, it will not shift the balance. When Jon Rahm joined in December 2023, he was arguably at the peak of his game.
- READ MORE: Phil Mickelson’s candid answer when asked about US Ryder Cup captaincy after LIV Golf switch
LIV not only need to retain their top players but also develop new ones like Tom McKibbin and Josele Ballester. And they need those players to start making a real mark in major championships.
The clock is ticking for LIV if they hope to establish themselves as a lasting force in professional golf.
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