As the third season of LIV Golf enters its final stretch, with only three events remaining after LIV Golf United Kingdom, the race for the coveted $18 million individual title is intensifying. While the season-ending Team Championship will determine the top team among the 13 competitors, the individual leaderboard is equally compelling. Last year’s winner, Talor Gooch, is out of the running this year, but five players still have a realistic shot at the title, with 40 points available for each event winner.
### Joaquin Niemann
Joaquin Niemann, captain of Torque GC, made a strong statement early in the 2024 season by winning the opener, LIV Golf Mayakoba, despite a two-shot penalty. He followed this victory with another win in Jeddah and has consistently performed well, securing six top-10 finishes. Niemann currently leads the standings with 165.40 points, over 40 points ahead of his closest competitors.
### Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm, who joined LIV Golf in December after a stellar season that included time as World No.1 and a Masters victory, has had a solid, if not spectacular, debut season on the circuit. Rahm has finished in the top 10 in every event he has completed. A maiden LIV Golf title eludes him, but if he can secure a victory this season, he could still overtake Niemann for the individual title.
### Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia, Rahm’s fellow Spaniard and 2017 Masters champion, is also in the mix after his best season on the circuit. Garcia came close to victory twice, losing in playoffs in the opening event of the season and in Miami. However, he broke through with a win at Valderrama in his homeland, putting him at 123.24 points, less than two points behind Rahm.
### Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton, another debutant this season, has steadily climbed the standings. After a slow start, Hatton found his form with a T4 finish in Miami, a fifth-place finish in Singapore, and his first LIV Golf title in Nashville. His third-place finish in Andalucia has brought him to 119.49 points, keeping him in contention for the top prize.
### Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen, captain of Stinger GC, rounds out the top contenders with 106.10 points. Despite a withdrawal from LIV Golf Houston, Oosthuizen has had a strong season with runner-up finishes in Jeddah and Adelaide and additional top-10 finishes in Miami and Andalucia. Though he trails Niemann by 59.30 points, Oosthuizen remains a formidable competitor as the season nears its conclusion.
With only a handful of tournaments left, the battle for the $18 million individual title is far from decided, and these five players are poised to make their final pushes for the top spot.