Report: LIV Golf considering another significant change

LIV Golf are considering making wholesale changes to their promotion and relegation system for the 2026 season, according to a report. 

Per FlushingIt, it is understood that the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV could expand its lock zone to 34 players - up from 10 - whilst 20 per cent of the 57-man league could be relegated.

The lock zone guarantees players a roster spot for the following season, whilst those whose contracts are expiring after offered a one-year renewal. 

Should the report turn out to be true, it would mean that as many as 12 players would be relegated from LIV Golf in 2026. 

In previous years, only four players have been given the boot. 

Controversially, team captains have been exempt from relegation, a policy that has drawn significant criticism for undermining meritocracy. 

Bubba Watson, captain of the RangeGoats, was relegated two years ago but remained in the league after making a "business case" to remain on the team. 

Branden Grace, who wasn't a team captain, was also relegated and failed to earn his spot back via LIV's Promotions event - but was still invited back onto the South African Stinger GC quartet. 

Former Open champion Henrik Stenson, one of three captains of the Majesticks, finished in the drop zone this season and it is understood the Swede wants to return to the DP World Tour after LIV decided to enforce relegation. 

FlushingIt has claimed he was told the latest news by several LIV Golf players. It would also likely bolster their case for world ranking points. 

And it would be the latest key change ahead of the 2026 season, which begins under the lights next February in Riyadh. 

At the beginning of November, LIV Golf announced all of their regular season events will be contested over 72 holes instead of 54. 

The news was surprising, given the format was one of the league's founding principles. Jon Rahm (pictured above) and Bryson DeChambeau were among those to hail the news. 

LIV's concurrent individual and team competition will remain unchanged. There are no plans to remove the signature shotgun start. 

LIV Golf boss confident of OWGR points

Elsewhere, LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil has given a wide-ranging interview to Sports Illustrated about the future of the league. 

O'Neil told SI that he is optimistic LIV will finally be awarded world ranking points in 2026. 

LIV has been locked out of the OWGR system since its launch in 2022, but it is understood the sports global rankings body are close to giving the breakaway the green light. 

O'Neil also told the publication that he remains "pragmatic" about working with the established tours, even if negotiations with PGA and DP World Tour officials have broken down. 

"I think there's real opportunity," O'Neil said. "But I am focused on LIV Golf and taking the sport around the world.

"I think that we are all smart enough to figure out that we can also create bigger platforms to have some fun and grow this game together."

O'Neil said he frequently talks to his counterpart at the PGA Tour, Brian Rolapp, but would keep their details of their conversations private. 

O'Neil also addressed the latest criticism from Rory McIlroy about the league's "irrational spending" and rumours that Brooks Koepka will quit LIV Golf when his contract expires in 2026. 

Koepka joined LIV Golf for more than $100m in 2022 but there has always been plenty of speculation that the five-time major winner has not enjoyed his time on the breakaway. 

In March, former Masters champion Fred Couples claimed he'd heard that Koepka "really wanted" to re-join the PGA Tour. 

For his part, Koepka has kept schtum about his future plans. 

"Everybody seems to have their own opinion and no one asks me," Koepka said.

"I talked to Fred quite a bit, but we don't go too much into detail about what's going on.

"Like I've said before, I'm not in those rooms. I've got a contract obligation out here to fulfil, and then we'll see what happens."