After the 2023 LIV Golf season concluded, the Breakaway League implemented its inaugural ‘drop zone,’ resulting in the removal of four players from the lineup for the 2024 campaign.
Last month, Chase Koepka, Sihwan Kim, James Piot, and Jediah Morgan all lost their spots on LIV Golf after finishing inside the infamous drop zone in the breakaway league.
This year, LIV established a relegation zone, and last month at LIV Jeddah, the fate of those relegated was decided. Brooks Koepka emerged victorious from the last event of the regular campaign in the capital of Saudi Arabia, but brother Chase was dropped from the competition.
In the midst of the bitter rivalry in professional golf, the four players who were demoted forfeited their ability to play on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour after pledging to participate in the Saudi-funded series this year.
The Asian Tour
Whilst LIV has been involved in a feud with the sport’s two leading circuits, the breakaway league has found an ally in the Asian Tour. In particular the pair have linked up via the Asian Tour’s International Series, in what has provided LIV players with some additional competition throughout their limited 14-week schedule.
Those demoted from the Saudi-funded system will have the option to play on the Asian Tour during their connections, and they may be able to regain their spot on LIV Golf through the International Series. The winner of the Series Order of Merit will undoubtedly be added to the LIV roster the next season; Andy Ogletree, another former rebel, took a similar path.
Ogletree was dumped from the LIV setup after finishing dead-last on the circuit’s maiden event at Centurion in 2022. An impressive year on the International Series has followed though, and a return to the breakaway league is imminent. There is no doubt Koepka, Kim, Piot and Morgan will be keen to follow in the American’s footsteps this time next year.
LIV Golf Promotions
The four players in question may actually make a comeback to the LIV roster in 2024, despite their relegation. The breakaway league revealed late last month that players wishing to secure a spot on the mega-money setup for their third season would have the opportunity to compete in a qualifying event.
In December, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club will host the ‘LIV Golf Promotions’ event, where participants will play 72 holes spread over three days in the Middle East. Along with the victor of the International Series, the top three finishers from the four rounds will be promoted to the rebel league in 2024.
Despite their misfortune this campaign, Koepka, Kim, Piot, Morgan will all be eligible to compete in the qualifier, and are expected to turn out in what for now, is an unpredictable field.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour
It seemed as though players who switched to LIV Golf would never again play on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour in the midst of golf’s civil war. The PGA Tour declared 17 months ago that it would suspend the membership of any player who opted to play in the league supported by Saudi Arabia. This was after the first golf balls were hit at Centurion.
After a protracted legal battle, their European counterparts the DP World Tour finally imposed fines and suspensions on individuals who had switched to Saudi Arabia in April. However, after seven months, it seems possible that the door will still be open to a potential comeback.
In June, the PGA Tour announced a shock framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which would see them work in unison with the DP World Tour and their LIV rivals. Whilst an finalised deal is yet to be signed off it is expected that zero tolerance players crossover with LIV could come to an end.
It is expected that players like Koepka, Kim, Piot and Morgan will be either able to reapply for their Tour memberships, or enter into Qualifying School to earn a place. Due to the slow pace of the framework agreement this will most likely be rolled out for the 2025 campaign.
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