Greg Norman's brutal reminder to LIV Golf stars as players face dumping from breakaway league
With just one regular event of the 2024 LIV Golf season left to play in Chicago this week, a whole host of players are hovering around the drop zone, with relegation looming
Greg Norman's relegation reminder to members of the LIV Golf setup is as timely as ever this week, with the breakaway league's 2024 regular season coming to an end in Chicago on Sunday.
While LIV's campaign officially ends at the Team Championship in Dallas next week, the individual side to the Saudi-backed circuit's season reaches its climax in Chicago, with plenty to play for at the top and bottom of the year-long standings. At the right end of the table, Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann will battle it out for the £13.8 million ($18m) bonus on offer to the league's seasonal champion.
At the other end, a whole host of players face the prospect of losing the right to compete on the LIV setup in 2025, with the four players sat inside the drop zone come the end of play on Sunday relegated.
Those currently occupying the four bottom spots are brothers, Kieran and Scott Vincent, as well as Kalle Samooja and Branden Grace. Just above the dreaded drop line, but also not out of the relegation scrap, are 4Aces duo Pat Perez and Harold Varner III, which will leave their captain Dustin Johnson scratching his head.
Losing a spot on the LIV roster will no doubt prove costly for those in danger, but the bottom six will have one final chance to save their membership over 54 holes at Bolingbrook Golf Club. The relegation battle has heated up in recent weeks, with the season finale growing ever-closer.
And during the run-in, LIV CEO Norman warned those in danger of what was to come if they did not find an improvement in form. "We are in the meat and bones of the season," the former world No. 1 said at LIV Golf UK in July." Players know there is relegation coming up and things are going to change up very quickly…
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"These guys who are on the edge have got to pull their socks up and get themselves going." With four spots set to be left vacant by those who are relegated, this means some new faces will make their way into the breakaway league for 2025, and according to Norman there are plenty of players on the outside looking in.
The CEO believes this interest from elsewhere is driving those already apart of the LIV roster to keep hold of their places. "We knew that we had to create this pathway of opportunity for the next generation," Norman 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. I see the intensity on the driving ranges. Each and every day, practice round, first round, even this morning you can see it elevating." One spot for 2025 will be handed to the Asian Tour's International Series Order of Merit winner, with three more places handed out via LIV Golf Promotions in December.
Those who also finished outside the relegation zone but below the top-24 are also at risk of losing their place if they are without a contract for 2025 due to falling into the 'Open Zone'. The 13 franchises are free to negotiate with players in the space, as well as with names from other tours.
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