5 LIV Golfers Brutally Dumped by Relegation

The conclusion of the 2024 LIV Golf regular season brought disappointment for five players, as their relegation was confirmed following the event at Bolingbrook in Chicago on Sunday. Among the most notable names to face the drop was two-time major champion Bubba Watson.

### Bubba Watson

Watson, a former PGA Tour star, was once thought to be exempt from relegation in 2023 due to the safety net provided for captains. However, a rule change for the 2024 season meant that even team captains were part of the relegation process. Despite being relegated, Watson still has a chance to avoid being completely sidelined. He can appeal his case to the RangeGoats team board, who may grant him a reprieve and allow him to play in the 2025 season.

### Branden Grace

Unlike Watson, Branden Grace has no opportunity to file an appeal. Grace, one of LIV Golf’s inaugural winners in Portland back in 2022, has seen a dramatic drop in form since his earlier success. His decline resulted in him finishing in the dreaded drop zone. However, Grace still has two potential routes to return for the 2025 season. He could either win the Asian Tour’s International Series Order of Merit or earn his way back through LIV Golf’s qualifying school, LIV Golf Promotions, later this year.

### Kalle Samooja

Kalle Samooja, a Finnish golfer who earned his spot in the 2024 season through LIV Golf Promotions, also fell victim to relegation. Samooja came close to escaping the drop zone during the final round in Chicago, but a bogey on the last hole sealed his fate. He swapped places with Pat Perez and ended his season in the relegation zone.

### Kieran Vincent

Kieran Vincent, like Samooja, gained entry to LIV Golf through the promotional event last December. Despite enjoying team success with Rahm’s Legion XIII, Vincent’s individual performances were lackluster, leading to his relegation after just one season in the league.

### Scott Vincent

In an unfortunate turn of events for the Vincent family, Kieran’s older brother, Scott Vincent, was also relegated. Scott, a founding member of LIV Golf who competed in the league’s inaugural event at Centurion in 2022, saw his time with the league come to an end. He tied for 23rd alongside his brother at LIV Chicago, marking the conclusion of his three-year run in the Saudi-funded circuit.

The 2024 season ended on a bitter note for these players, and for some, the journey back to the LIV Golf league will require a difficult path through either merit-based qualifications or promotional events.