Golf fans accuse LIV of breaking their own rules... but all is not as it seems

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia has become the latest player to agree a contract extension with LIV Golf. 

The 45-year-old Spaniard confirmed on Friday that he will be on the breakaway tour for the foreseeable future. 

Garcia will lead a team of Josele Ballester, David Puig and Luis Masaveu next season. 

Masaveu, 22, replaces Abraham Ancer after the Mexican was traded to Joaquin Niemann's Torque. 

On the surface, the addition of Masaveu did not raise any eyebrows whatsoever given he fits the bill perfectly for Garcia's team given he is Spanish and also a former member. 

There are unsubstantiated reports that Garcia wanted young DP World Tour golfer Angel Ayora to fill the slot, but he will have to make do with Masaveu after the 21-year-old rejected LIV twice. 

But it has been pointed out that Masaveu finished in LIV Golf's drop zone, leading to plenty of confusion among golf fans online. 

For the first time, LIV are enforcing relegation. The move is thought to be part of LIV's push to finally be accredited by the global rankings body so as to allow their players better access into the four men's majors. 

Former Open champ Henrik Stenson and multiple PGA Tour winner Anthony Kim were among the notables that got the boot alongside Mito Pereira, Andly Ogletree, Yubin Jang and Frederik Kjettrup

So how has Masaveu been allowed to return?

"It doesn't make sense to me," one X user wrote. Another added: "This shouldn't surprise anyone since LIV's entire model is built on the foundation of breaking rules."

Well, turns out if you read the fine print LIV Golf's rules state that reserve players are not factored into the individual standings. 

So there you have it. 

Perhaps it should be pointed out, though, that Masaveu played seven of his nine LIV Golf tournaments last year whilst under contract with Garcia's Fireballs before he was replaced with the aforementioned Ballester. 

OWGR chief gives update on LIV Golf's application

LIV Golf launched in June 2022 and have always been locked out of the Official World Golf Ranking system. 

There has been plenty of speculation as to why, with some golfers such as Phil Mickelson claiming there is a conspiracy to deny LIV points. 

The general assumption, though, is that LIV's lack of meritocracy and pathways have been the stumbling blocks. 

On Friday, OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman offered an update. 

That update? No decision has been made. But the former Masters champ claimed the dialogue with LIV has been "positive". 

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