LIV Golf, rather like flying cars, driverless cars, VR, AI and Alexander Isak, hasn’t really taken off in quite the way some had hoped or predicted. There is still hope for most of those things, and there is also no doubting the fact that AI has had a big impact that is likely to grow in the years ahead. The same, however, is less true when it comes to LIV.
The breakaway tour was founded in 2021, and its first season came a year later. It experienced steady growth in the earlier years, gradually managing to attract some huge names. Dustin Johnson was there from the start, but then other genuine stars joined him, including Bryson DeChambeau, and then, in December 2023, Jon Rahm.
Lured by huge paydays for less work, no, sorry, by a desire to grow the game – make your own mind up – it was expected that other stars would also defect. However, that has not happened. Moreover, in late 2025 and 2026 we have seen some big names opting to leave LIV. Brooks Koepka is clearly the highest profile of those, while Patrick Reed failed to agree on a new LIV contract, and Henrik Stenson was relegated from the tour at the end of 2025.
So, with some big names leaving the Saudi-backed tour and plotting returns to the PGA and European Tours, who will be battling it out for the big prizes in the 2026 LIV Golf League?
Team Captains
LIV sought to use teams to try to rouse interest among golf fans. It hasn’t worked, at least not yet, but there are 13 teams, each with four players. Some have sub golfers as well, while all have captains, who are among the biggest names in LIV. Here are the 13 captains:
| Team | Captain |
|---|---|
| 4Aces | Dustin Johnson |
| Cleeks | Martin Kaymer |
| Crushers | Bryson DeChambeau |
| Fireballs | Sergio Garcia |
| HyFlyers | Phil Mickelson |
| Korean | An Byeong-hun |
| Legion XIII | Jon Rahm |
| Majesticks | Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood |
| Range Goats | Bubba Watson |
| Ripper | Cameron Smith |
| Smash | Talor Gooch |
| Southern Guards | Louis Oosthuizen |
| Torque | Joaquin Niemann |
On the face of it, those are some big names, with several major champions and a number of players with multiple majors to their name. However, with the exception of DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and perhaps one or two others, their best days are behind them. That is obviously the case with someone like Mickelson, who turned 55 in 2025, but even LIV’s brightest stars have seen their brightness dim without the regular test of tough golf against the very best in the world.
Following Koepka’s decision to return to the PGA Tour, it seemed that other big stars would follow. However, Rahm, who, along with DeChambeau, is probably the best of the LIV brigade, and like the American, boasts two majors to his name, decided against returning.
The Spaniard, a former world number one (Bryson’s highest ranking is fourth), had previously been a critic of LIV. He had said that, “There’s a lot more to be able to play for besides just money on the PGA Tour. There’s history, there’s legacy.” He also commented that he had “never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons” and that his “heart is with the PGA Tour”.
All that changed, however, when he was tempted by a cheque for a rumoured £240m, with around another £150m available in extras. Having previously said he had enough to retire on and that £400m would not change his life all that much, he then said the money was a factor and he had to put his family first.
BREAKING: Jon Rahm will join the LIV Golf League from the 2024 season. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/wwjF0wMvFT
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) December 8, 2023
Rahm obviously struggles making up his mind, so it was no huge surprise when rumour circulated that he regretted the decision and wanted to return to the two main tours. Many expected him to follow Koepka; however, he announced he would continue to play LIV in 2026 and would not be doing a deal with the DP World Tour to play a mix of LIV and European events, as he argued that “in a way they’re extorting players”.
Other Big Names on LIV in 2026
As well as the megastars like team skippers Rahm, Bryson, Lefty and DJ, there are also lots of very well-known golfers fleshing out the teams. Among the most successful and famous are the following, who have won majors, appeared in Ryder Cups and been in or near the top 10 in the world:
- Paul Casey
- Thomas Pieters
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Matthew Wolff
- Graeme McDowell
- Branden Grace
- Charl Schwartzel
- Abraham Ancer
And all the Rest
In addition to the above skippers and stars are the following players. These are a mix of youngsters on the way up, lesser players, and golfers who are well known but only within their own region.
- Thomas Detry
- Anthony Kim
- Miguel Tabuena (sub)
- Richard Bland
- Adrian Meronk
- Victor Perez
- John Catlin (sub)
- Charles Howell III
- Anirban Lahiri
- Josele Ballester
- Luis Masaveu
- David Puig
- Michael La Sasso
- Brendan Steele
- Cameron Tringale
- Ollie Schniederjans (sub)
- Wade Ormsby (sub)
- Kim Min-kyu
- Danny Lee
- Song Young-han
- Tom McKibbin
- Caleb Surratt
- Laurie Canter
- Sam Horsfield
- Ben Schmidt (sub)
- Ben Campbell
- Peter Uihlein
- Matthew Wolff
- Lucas Herbert
- Marc Leishman
- Elvis Smylie
- Jason Kokrak
- Harold Varner III
- Dean Burmester
- Sebastian Munoz
- Carlos Ortiz
Various Changes Have Made LIV More Appealing
Advocates of free-market capitalism would argue that competition is essential and improves much about the world. That may well have been the case with LIV. It has spurred the PGA and DP World Tours to offer bigger prizes and share more profits with the top players. Meanwhile, LIV has had to change too.
The name is derived from the 54-hole format, LIV being the Roman numerals for 54. However, to try and be granted ranking points, LIV tournaments are now 72-hole affairs. Player relegation now also makes things more competitive, as does the fact that fields have expanded. There is less animosity and hostility between the three tours now and more cooperation.
All in all, this could mean we see more players opting to play on the LIV Tour, especially if they can maintain their world ranking. Time will tell, and there will no doubt be more twists and turns ahead and lots more players changing their allegiance one way or another – and quite possibly back again!