Greg Norman CEO of LIV Golf signs autographs for fans during the LIV Golf League tournament on February 08, 2024 at the Las Vega (Image: Getty Images)
A top executive from one of the 13 LIV Golf franchises has revealed that players are eager to join the controversial series, with two high-profile golfers causing a stir. The league’s trading window opened this month, allowing for team changes and new acquisitions.
While it remains under wraps whether any PGA Tour or DP World Tour professionals will make the switch by 2025, a general manager privy to the situation told Sports Illustrated that interest is rife. “Two guys that had very big offers that are now calling would love to be on [a LIV team] and said that was the worst decision they made is not accepting the offer and coming over,” disclosed the unnamed chief.
With players from the PGA tour and those considering turning professional from college being mooted, the GM admitted: “My phone’s been ringing nonstop.”
He added, “Basically since right before Dallas [LIV Team Championship things are starting to happen from either player directly or agents calling exploring and wanting to look at the possibility of coming on [LIV team]”, as reported by Mirror US. A
lthough no deals have been officially signed, Mirror US Sports suggests that announcements could be imminent in the next few weeks.
LIV Golf have made some changes (Image: Getty Images)
Five spots on the LIV team roster have become available after the relegation of Bubba Watson (RangeGoats), Kalle Samooja (Cleeks GC), Scott Vincent (IronHeads), Kieran Vincent (Legion XIII), and Branden Grace (Stinger). Watson’s situation is particularly notable, as he is one of the league’s 15 appointed captains.
Despite the removal of immunity from relegation for captains, Watson has been given the chance to pitch a business plan to LIV executives about making a comeback to the RangeGoats roster in 2024. Meanwhile, there are four other spots that need filling, but Samooja, Grace, and the two Vincents have the opportunity to claw their way back via LIV Promotions.
Bubba Watson (Image: Getty Images)
Players in the Open Zone without a contract for 2025 also face the threat of losing their spot on the LIV circuit in 2025. Two of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces teammates, Pat Perez and Harold Varner III, are in this precarious position, and it is reported that Johnson and his team are keen to inject some new blood into the squad.
The intriguing situation of LIV wildcards for the upcoming season remains up in the air. In 2024, Hudson Swafford and the returning Anthony Kim filled the two wildcard spots.
While there has been speculation about changes to the wildcard slots, it is now believed that Kim will reclaim his playing rights for 2025.