Greg Norman sends warning to LIV Golf stars as players face being dumped from breakaway league

Greg Norman has issued a stern warning to LIV Golf players facing relegation from the breakaway league. With just three events left in the regular season, many players are at risk of being dropped from the Saudi-backed league, which would force them to find alternative playing opportunities in 2025.

As it stands, Branden Grace, Scott Vincent, Kieran Vincent, and Kalle Samooja are in the relegation zone. Grace and Scott Vincent are established names, while Kieran Vincent and Samooja earned their spots through Q-School last winter. Other players near the relegation zone include Harold Varner III, Pat Perez, Jinichiro Kozuma, and Mito Pereira, all of whom are in danger as the season comes to a close.

Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, emphasized the urgency of the situation during the second round of LIV’s broadcast. “We are in the meat and bones of the season,” he said. “Players know there is relegation coming up and things are going to change up very quickly… These guys who are on the edge have got to pull their socks up and get themselves going.”

The relegation of four players will create opportunities for new talent to join the league. Since its inception in June 2022, LIV Golf has attracted some of the biggest names in the sport, and Norman indicated that there are still players eager to make the switch. “We knew that we had to create this pathway of opportunity for the next generation,” he added. “And there are players out there with FOMO [fear of missing out] right now. They want to get in. So the players who are in, know that there’s that FOMO wanting to get in, and they don’t want to get out.”

Norman noted the increased intensity among players, especially on the driving ranges and during practice rounds. Players who finish outside the top-24 in the standings also risk losing their spots if their contracts with the league have expired. This situation could affect even high-profile players like Bubba Watson, who has struggled to find his form since joining LIV Golf. “You look at the players that are in that zone, they know they’re in that zone, the relegation zone,” Norman explained. “Bubba Watson, for example, I watched Bubba on TV all day yesterday. You can see his face going up and down, so you don’t think he’s under pressure. Damn right he’s under pressure.”

With the season nearing its end, Norman’s message is clear: players must elevate their performance to secure their spots in the league, as there are many eager to take their places.