Captain crunch time: How a LIV Golf rule change could spell big trouble for several star names

By , Golf writer and wannabe darts player.

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Ian Poulter is among those in danger of relegation thanks to the LIV Golf rule change.

The three Majesticks co-captains are among those in danger of relegation from the LIV Golf League after a recent change to the small print…

England’s Ian Poulter is in serious danger of being relegated from LIV Golf after the league made a significant change to its rules.

According to The Telegraph, there will be no reprieve for LIV captains who finish in the Drop Zone – which is players ranked 49th or lower in the season-long standings.

RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson finished 53rd in the individual standings last year but made a “business case” and kept his place in the team.

Branden Grace of Stingers GC was also retained despite finishing among the relegation places in 2024.

But that has all changed. With LIV once again chasing world ranking points, those who finish in the Drop Zone will have no recourse this time around.

LIV’s previous application was rejected by the OWGR, with its lax rules on relegation among the reasons behind the decision, so it is hoped this stronger stance will help its case.

Only two events remain on this year’s LIV schedule, meaning Poulter and anyone else at risk will need to find some strong finishes to accumulate enough points to sneak through.

Poulter, who is believed to be in the final year of his contract with the breakaway league, is a Majesticks co-captain and faces the prospect of battling relegation against his fellow co-captains Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson.

Westwood sits 46th and Stenson is 47th heading into the tournaments in Chicago and then Indianapolis. It has been a fairly dismal year for the Majesticks, who sit 12th of the 13 teams in the standings.

From the 54-man fields, only the top 24 finishers receive points, meaning Poulter’s T13 in Korea in May is the only time he’s made any headway.

Stenson and Westwood have fared little better. The Swede, who sacrificed the Ryder Cup captaincy to join LIV, has had only two top-24 finishes – a T12 in Adelaide and a T20 in Korea – while Westwood’s T10 in Virginia is his sole points-scoring finish.

Should any of the European stalwarts fail to escape the drop, they will need to top the Asian Tour’s International Series or win the LIV Golf promotions tournament in December to get back on the Saudi-funded circuit.

Failing that, an intriguing return to the DP World Tour could be on the cards.

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