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LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has fired a stern warning in the direction of players, who include top Zimbabwean golfers and brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent, facing relegation by telling them to “pull their socks up” with just three tournaments left of the regular season.
Multiple players finishing in the “Drop Zone” will be axed from the LIV Golf League following the conclusion of the Chicago event from 13-15 September.
The individual standings are broken down into three categories, with final positions determining a player’s status in the league:
Lock Zone: Players finishing in the Top 24 secure an opportunity with the league next season.
Open Zone: Players finishing 25-48 whose contracts are expiring become free agents.
Drop Zone: Players finishing 49 and below are relegated out of the league and automatically qualify for LIV Golf Promotions for the chance to earn their spot back next season.
There are just three tournaments left on the schedule — UK, Greenbrier, Chicago — before the season-ending Team Championship in Texas from 20-22 September.
As it stands, Kieran Vincent of Zimbabwe, Branden Grace, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and Kalle Samooja are in the bottom four spots.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson also finds himself in the drop zone but since he is under contract as captain of RangeGoats GC, he cannot be booted from LIV.
Other stars on the verge of the drop zone include 4Aces GC duo Harold Varner III and Pat Perez.
Even if both players do keep their heads above water this season, it remains to be seen whether 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson sticks or twists with his line up in 2025.
Johnson has certainly not been afraid to ring changes in his team in recent years.
Other stars on the verge of the drop zone include 4Aces GC duo Harold Varner III and Pat Perez.
Even if both players do keep their heads above water this season, it remains to be seen whether 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson sticks or twists with his line up in 2025.
Johnson has certainly not been afraid to ring changes in his team in recent years.
Anthony Kim will not face relegation despite his tough first season on LIV.
That’s because the former US Ryder Cup hero was added as a wildcard earlier this season.
It remains to be seen whether LIV Golf extend Kim’s wildcard status for another season, or whether he joins as a team player in 2025.
Should a player face the drop zone (and be out of contract) come the end of the season, then they will need to tee it up in the Promotions event later on in the year in order to play their way back onto the league for 2025.
Speaking in the commentary box during this weekend’s LIV Golf UK at JCB Golf & Country Club in Rochester, the league’s CEO Greg Norman fired a stern warning in the direction of the circuit’s under-performing players right now.
“We are in the meat and bones of the season,” said Norman.
“Players know there is relegation coming up and things are going to change up very quickly . . . These guys who are on the edge have got to pull their socks up and get themselves going.”
Norman admits he can see the drive and determination of everyone right now as players push to either play themselves into contention for the individual title or keep their playing rights on the circuit.
Joaquin Niemann, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Louis Oosthuizen are all right in the mix to land the Individual Championship for the first time this season.
Norman said: “I see the intensity on the driving ranges, each and every day, practice round, first round, even this morning you can see it elevating.”
However, even those hovering above the drop zone aren’t out of the woods, as Harold Varner III, Pat Perez, Jinichiro Kozuma, and Mito Pereira are all dangerously close to danger as the countdown continues. With the clock ticking down, LIV’s big boss Norman has issued a stark reminder of the urgency.
“We are in the meat and bones of the season,” declared the former world No. 1 during LIV’s second-round live airing. — Golfmagic.
Online Reporter
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