Phil Mickelson Facing LIV Golf Relegation After Surprise Rule Change
Phil Mickelson was the first major player to make headlines when LIV Golf launched its challenge against the PGA Tour, aiming to attract some of its biggest stars. However, he now faces the possibility of being relegated due to an unexpected rule change, putting his future in LIV Golf in jeopardy. It has been almost…
Phil Mickelson was the first major player to make headlines when LIV Golf launched its challenge against the PGA Tour, aiming to attract some of its biggest stars. However, he now faces the possibility of being relegated due to an unexpected rule change, putting his future in LIV Golf in jeopardy.
It has been almost three years since LIV Golf entered the professional golf scene, heavily funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The league made its bold intentions clear when Phil Mickelson announced his departure from the PGA Tour in early 2022, signing a reported $200 million contract with LIV Golf. This marked the first of several major acquisitions, with other high-profile players like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and Jon Rahm also joining the league.
Despite the billions of dollars spent to attract these top-tier players, LIV Golf has not had the widespread cultural impact that such an investment might suggest. Nonetheless, many of the players who secured their financial futures by joining LIV Golf seem content with their decision.
However, several of them now face uncertainty, partly due to a last-minute rule change ahead of the conclusion of the 2023 season. LIV Golf implemented a relegation system that year, similar to the structure used in soccer. Under this system, players who finish below the 44th position in the annual rankings could be relegated, although they would still have the opportunity to reclaim their spot in a post-season qualifying tournament.
Initially, team captains were exempt from relegation. But according to a report from *Sports Illustrated*, that exemption will no longer apply in 2024. As a result, several prominent players are on the verge of relegation heading into the season finale at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Chicago, which began on Friday.
Phil Mickelson, captain of the HyFlyers team, is currently in 44th place, right on the cutoff line, while Ian Poulter, co-captain of the Majesticks, sits in 46th place. Bubba Watson, captain of the RangeGoats, is already in the relegation zone at 52nd. Another notable name, Anthony Kim, who attempted a much-anticipated comeback, is ranked 56th and is far from the cutoff. However, Kim is exempt from relegation this year.
For players who do get relegated, there will be opportunities to regain their position by competing in qualifying events after the season ends. That said, there is a loophole in the form of the “business case” exemption, which could be used in Mickelson’s favor if he falls into the relegation zone.
All eyes are on the Chicago tournament, with the final results determining the fate of these top players. The tournament concludes on Sunday, when it will become clear whether Mickelson and others will face relegation or retain their spots in the league.
