https://arab.news/m9jyt
- CEO Greg Norman hails ‘incredible performances’ so far this season
- Championship continues this week at Real Club Valderrama, its first event on Spanish soil
Seven events into the LIV Golf League’s first official 14-tournament season and the individual and team championship competitions are heating up, while those at the bottom of the table face possible relegation.
Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC leads the individual standings with 96 points, thanks to impressive back-to-back wins in Adelaide and Singapore. Stinger GC’s Branden Grace and Smash GC captain and 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka trail closely behind with 86 and 85 points, respectively.
4Aces GC, captained by Dustin Johnson, lead the team competition with 124 points, followed by Stinger GC (108) and Torque GC (97). Torque, captained by Joaquin Niemann, took home the team trophy at LIV Golf DC and became this season’s first two-time team champions.
“The incredible performances this season in Mexico, Australia, Singapore and throughout the US have matched the fan energy and global excitement for the league’s launch,” said Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf.
“As we hit the season’s homestretch, the pursuit for championships will continue to showcase the world-class competition on display among many of the best players on the planet, and I’m eager for our fans to enjoy the high-stakes race set to unfold.”
As announced at the start of the season, LIV Golf’s unique format features two season-long leaderboards, where points for both teams and individuals are earned at each tournament. At the conclusion of the 13th and final regular tournament, the standings determine the seeding for the season-ending team championship. The top four teams receive a first-round bye in the multiple-day event that determines the overall winner.
In the individual standings, the player with the most points at the end of the season is named the individual champion.
The individual standings are broken down into three categories, with final positions potentially impacting a player’s status in the league:
Lock Zone: Players finishing in the top 24 secure their spot in the LIV Golf League for next season.
Open Zone: Players finishing 25th to 44th face potential trade or release by their team.
Drop Zone: Players finishing 45th and lower are relegated from the league but automatically qualify for the promotions tournament and the chance to earn their spot back for next season.