The 2025 LIV Golf regular season has concluded, and that means that a handful of players now face relegation and risk losing their spots next season.
Here are the five team players (plus one notable wild card) who finished 49th or lower in the individual LIV standings for 2025 and now find themselves below the relegation line — aka the “Drop Zone” — after Sunday’s final round at LIV Indianapolis:
Stenson was edged out by teammate and co-captain, Ian Poulter — who birdied four of his last five holes to narrowly avoid relegation. Despite Stenson’s best efforts, a missed birdie putt on the final hole ultimately dropped him below the safety line and cemented him at 49 in the individual rankings.
Ogletree earned his 2025 spot through the International Series, but after battling a persistent wrist injury throughout the season, his inability to secure high finishes left him lacking in points. Even with a T22 finish at LIV Indianapolis, he couldn’t escape the Drop Zone.
Although Pereira had a solid performance at LIV Indianapolis, finishing T36 and earning 15 points for his team, Torque GC, with his final-round finish, it wasn’t enough to lift him above the line of relegation. A bittersweet ending to his season.
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The LIV rookie struggled to find consistency this year, earning just one top-25 finish all season.
Kjettrup fell short of the points required to remain above the relegation line. Even though the Cleeks GC team member showed flashes of potential, he was unable to convert those moments into the high finishes needed to stay in the Open Zone.
Kim’s much-buzzed-about return to golf was exciting and nostalgic for many, giving fans an underdog to root for in LIV Golf. But despite the initial anticipation, he couldn’t secure enough points to escape relegation.
LIV’s ruthless relegation system adds competitive pressure to the league, determining who will punch their ticket for next season, and who will be left on the outside looking in. At the end of the season, the top 24 players in individual standings enter the “Lock Zone” and are guaranteed a spot on their team and in the league the following season. Those ranked 25th to 48 sit in the “Open Zone,” leaving them vulnerable to potential trades or releases. Finishing 49th or lower means you automatically fall into the “Drop Zone,” resulting in automatic relegation.
In the early years of LIV, captains had immunity from relegation. But that’s no longer the case, as we’ve seen in recent years. Now, if a captain finishes in the bottom tier, they still face the threat of being removed from LIV’s roster.
There is some good news for the players who find themselves in the danger zone. Being relegated doesn’t always mean a player is gone for good. There are several pathways back into the league. LIV’s Promotions Event is a high-stakes multi-round qualifying tournament held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, every December. The top finishers from this event earn a LIV roster spot for the next season.
Players can also earn their spot back through a set of strong performances at Asian Tour events that are partly backed by LIV. The final option for players who face relegation is through a team business case. Here, teams can petition to retain a player if they bring significant off-course value — as happened in 2024 with Range Goats GC captain Bubba Watson and Branden Grace of Stinger GC.
But others haven’t been so lucky. After finishing in the Drop Zone following the 2023 season, Hunter Swafford of HyFlyers GC was relegated and lost his spot in the league. During a recent episode of Subpar, Swafford detailed some of the challenges he’s faced since his relegation, including his suspension from the PGA Tour. You can watch the full episode here.
For the six players who find themselves in the Drop Zone after the 2025 regular season, the road back to a potential roster spot begins in December at LIV’s Promotions Event. Some may earn redemption through a strong post-season performance on the Asian Tour, while others could seize a second chance by different means. But as history has shown, the climb back is anything but easy.
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