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SEVERAL players are heading to Chicago for the final regular LIV Golf event of the season knowing their time on the lucrative breakaway could be up.
Those not immune from relegation as a captain or wildcard will be axed from the Saudi-backed league if they are in the Drop Zone after this week’s US$25 million show-piece at Bolingbrook Golf Club.
The relegated players would then have the LIV Golf Promotions Event in the winter as their only reprieve to get back on Greg Norman’s circuit for the 2025 season.
As it stands, Zimbabwe’s top golfer Scott Vincent, Branden Grace, Kalle Samooja, and another Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent occupy the relegation places ahead of the final week of the season.
The top 24 players on a leaderboard receive points to boost their Standings in LIV events and the under-performing quartet still have a chance to save their season.
The players hovering in the Open Zone (25-48) include Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces teammates Harold Varner III and Pat Perez, with both Americans still in danger of losing their place in the league.
LIV Golf Chicago, the final individual event of the season will be decisive as far as the 2024 individual championship and final placings is concerned including the demarcation between those with guaranteed team places, those in the safe zone, and likely drops.
The Bolingbrook Golf Club near Chicago hosts the penultimate event on the LIV Golf 2024 schedule from Friday, September 13 that will decide the individual champion of the season and also the seedings for the team championship in Dallas the following week. There is thus a great deal at stake and the battle between Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann is expected to be front and centre at LIV Golf Chicago.
Under ordinary circumstances, legendary golfer Phil Mickelson would be at risk of relegation from LIV Golf. That would likely prove to be disastrous as he’s over 50 and couldn’t just return to the PGA Tour in that instance.
However, a key part of the rules for LIV’s team-based format allows Mickelson to remain despite poor performance.
Elsewhere, LIV’s champion will also be crowned this week, with Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann going toe-to-toe for the US$18m prize. — Agencies/Sports Reporter.
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