Brutal LIV calls as Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson prepare new 2026 lineups

Major champions Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson have sent a clear message ahead of LIV Golf’s fifth season: no spot is safe.

With the 2026 campaign set to begin in Riyadh in early February, both captains are preparing to unveil new signings after decisive — and ruthless — roster calls at Ripper GC and RangeGoats GC.

Matt Jones and Ben Campbell have been cast aside after entering January’s LIV Golf Promotions event, confirming neither player holds a guaranteed place on a team for next season. 

Instead, both must fight their way back onto the circuit just weeks before the new campaign begins.

The revelation has opened the door for Smith and Watson to refresh their squads, and sources suggest recruitment plans are already well advanced. 

One name doing the rounds this week is PGA Tour pro Max Greyserman, who is rumoured to be on Watson’s radar, although nothing has yet been confirmed.

The bombshell dropped when LIV Golf released the field for the four-day Promotions event at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida. 

Jones and Campbell axed by teams

While high-profile names such as Anthony Kim, Chris Wood and Andy Ogletree grabbed attention, it was the presence of Jones and Campbell — both exempt into round two — that raised eyebrows.

Their inclusion confirmed they had finished the 2025 season inside LIV’s Open Zone, triggering relegation and leaving their futures in the league in serious doubt.

Jones has been part of LIV Golf since its inception in 2022, initially lining up for Punch GC before becoming a key figure at Ripper GC following its rebrand in 2023.

The Australian enjoyed significant success alongside Smith, winning multiple team titles and helping Ripper land the season-long team championship in 2024. 

Despite being re-signed soon after, Jones’ 2025 campaign unravelled, finishing 40th in the individual standings — the lowest-ranked player on Smith’s roster.

A tied fourth at LIV Golf Andalucia was his lone standout result, with a T17 in Mexico his only other top-20 finish across the season.

The all-Aussie Ripper GC consists of Smith as captain, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman. 

Campbell, meanwhile, joined LIV as a reserve in 2024, appearing for multiple teams while balancing a busy Asian Tour schedule. 

The New Zealander earned a full-time spot with Watson’s RangeGoats for 2025 and ended the year ranked 36th.

Notably, Campbell finished as the second-highest RangeGoats player behind Watson himself, ahead of both Peter Uihlein and Matthew Wolff. 

His third-place finish in Singapore showed clear upside, but a lack of consistency — with no other top-15 results — ultimately proved costly.

Both Jones and Campbell's departures are part of a wider period of upheaval across LIV Golf as teams lock in their plans for 2026.

LIV Golf teams taking shape for 2026 season

Sergio Garcia has already committed to a new multi-year deal, while Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have also signed fresh contracts. 

Majesticks GC now look settled, with Westwood and Poulter joined by Sam Horsfield and new signing Laurie Canter in an all-English line-up.

Elsewhere, Luis Masaveu has returned to Fireballs GC alongside David Puig and Josele Ballester, while Abraham Ancer has switched allegiances to Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC after Mito Pereira was relegated.

Pereira then stunned the golf world on Tuesday by announcing his immediate retirement from the sport. 

The Chilean, who came agonisingly close to winning the 2022 US PGA Championship, confirmed he will return home to Chile to begin a new life away from golf.

With LIV Golf Promotions just weeks away and two captains actively clearing space on their rosters, the Saudi-bankrolled circuit looks set for more headline-grabbing moves — and some notable new signings — as the countdown to 2026 continues.