LIV Golf’s relegation system has come under criticism after Bubba Watson and Branden Grace have both been kept on for 2025 despite finishing last year’s campaign in the ‘Drop Zone.’
Captains like Watson were originally exempt from relegation until it was revealed that they could be cut from the league and only brought back if a business case was made and accepted. That has clearly happened with the two-time Masters champion and RangeGoats GC leader, who still carries a big name with a strong record and a large following across his social media channels.
Grace looked to be out of the league after missing out at the Promotions event before Louis Oosthuizen re-signed him to the Stinger GC team. Oosthuizen told Golf Monthly that he didn’t think of bringing anyone else in “for one second” and that Grace was always going to return.
LIV’s other relegated players, Scott and Kieran Vincent, will not be returning for 2025.
So, with just 50% of the relegated players actually being relegated, should LIV Golf just do away with the system? Our writers have their say…
Should LIV Golf do away with relegation?
Jonny Leighfield
No, because relegation is fundamentally a good idea. LIV just needs to make sure that it follows through with penalties on players who finish in the drop zone.
Even if they’re only banned from being a permanent member of a team for one season (golfers could still fill in for injured players if necessary), there has to be some kind of punishment for a poor season.
Enforcing relegation for everyone inside the drop zone would also allow for a natural turnover in the roster. As a result, that would give the product greater meaning and ensure fans are far more likely to remain engaged because they know the rules won’t be changed at the drop of a hat to suit certain players.
Relegation is a good idea, but it has to be utlized properly and that is not currently the case with LIV.
Nick Bonfield
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest if LIV Golf does away with relegation or not.
I have no interest in watching the breakaway league, even though I have to admit I was impressed with the quality of the broadcast when I tuned in for research at the end of last year.
It seems fairly obvious that relegation and promotion was only important in the quest for world…
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