BEDMINSTER, NJ — The Saudi-funded LIV Golf Series announced a 14-tournament schedule for next year with 12 established team franchises and the ability for players to be promoted or relegated through its Asian series of events. Tour.
Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, said in a press release Wednesday that the full schedule will be released at a later date and will include stops around the world.
The rival league to the PGA and European tours is playing its third event this week at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey, the course owned by former President Donald Trump. The four additions to the 48-man roster are Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Jason Kokrak. The European tour stripped Stenson of his Ryder Cup captaincy for signing with LIV Golf, after pledging full support for the tour when he was selected as captain in March.
Along with the field of 48-man, uncut events worth $25 million in prize money, LIV Golf Investments has pumped $300 million into the Asian Tour for “International Series” events. While details on promotion and relegation were not announced, players would be able to enter the LIV Golf League through their performance at these Asian Tour events, while those who finish at the bottom of LIV Golf events they would be replaced.
The press release said LIV Golf League players are expected to compete in “numerous” International Series events, which would mean playing more of the 14 tournaments on the LIV Golf 2023 schedule. A call for players who have signed up, like Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, was to play less.
LIV Golf said it would have 25 tournaments around the world next year, indicating a total of 11 events on the Asian Tour. There are four “International Series” events on the Asian Tour schedule this year. The press release said that the new stops on the Asian tour would include the Americas and Europe. This year, the Asian Tour held an event in England a week before the LIV Golf Invitational debuts outside of London.
Norman said that LIV Golf and the “International Series” would be played for $405 million in prize money. With $25 million set aside for LIV Golf events, that would suggest the International Series events would each have a $5 million purse.
The 12 four-man teams would remain the same throughout the year. Captains will be able to build their franchises to attract supporters and sponsor interest. Howell and Casey are now on a team managed by Bryson DeChambeau, and they said he approached them a few months ago about joining LIV Golf.