LIV Golf 2026: Who's In, Who's Out, and What's the Bloody Hell Going On?
“`
Alright, let’s cut the crap. The LIV Golf circus is rolling into town again for 2026, and as usual, it’s a goddamn mess. You probably heard Brooks Koepka isn’t playing. Or Patrick Reed. Yeah, big shocker, right? The week before they tee it up in Riyadh has been all about who’s *not* showing up. It’s like a damn soap opera, but with more money and less talent.We’re talking about guys bailing, getting the boot, or just plain disappearing. Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford are back – for 2027, apparently. Kevin Na’s timeline is a mystery. Even Jinichiro Kozuma, who finished a decent 32nd in the standings, got the heave-ho. Why? Nationality. Because apparently, not being from Korea is a crime in the new Korean GC. No other player outside the top 40 got axed. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?And then there’s Phil Mickelson, out with family stuff. Lee Westwood, nursing a wrist injury. You gotta wonder if these are legit excuses or just convenient ways to bail before the whole thing implodes. But hey, the show must go on.So, who *is* playing? Well, you’ve got the big names who are still under contract, like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cam Smith. These are the guys who were supposedly courted back to the PGA Tour, but nope, they’re sticking with LIV. Guess the desert sun is more appealing than dealing with the usual golf drama.Then there are the fresh faces. Michael La Sasso, the reigning NCAA champ, is making his media debut. Ben An, the new captain for Korean GC, says it feels like the first day of school. Bless his heart. Reed’s temporary replacement is in. Koepka handed his captaincy over to Talor Gooch. New team names, familiar faces, guys getting the sack – the whole damn package.There are still a million questions about where this league is headed. The stars, the teams, the format, its whole identity. We’ll get to that later. But as they kick off their fifth season, it’s time to take stock. Who’s actually playing LIV, what’s changed, and what fresh hell awaits? Here are 10 things shaping the league for 2026.
The Format Flip: From 54 to 72 Holes
This is a big one. They’re stretching the tournaments to 72 holes, up from the usual 54. Some guys are praising it, saying it’s a step towards legitimacy. Others? Skeptical as hell. Bryson DeChambeau himself is questioning why LIV is ditching the very thing that made it different. It’s like trying to be a rebel by doing exactly what everyone else does. Brilliant.The move is supposed to get them closer to OWGR points, which is obviously a massive deal for the players who want to compete in majors. But LIV, in its infinite wisdom, isn’t exactly thrilled with the outcome. They’re lashing out at the golf establishment, suggesting they’re not happy with what they got. The OWGR, meanwhile, is laying out its concerns about LIV’s format. They’re saying points could go up, down, or disappear altogether. This whole OWGR saga is far from over. It’s a damn mess, and frankly, it’s exhausting.
More Wild Cards, Fewer Certainties
Last year, they had two “wild cards.” Now? Five. That means 57 players instead of 54. What the hell are these wild cards for? Well, it’s complicated. You’ve got 52 players locked into teams, the supposed core of the league. Then you’ve got these five guys who are… just there?The explanation is for OWGR consideration. LIV needed to show there are pathways to get into the league. But they didn’t want to force teams to pick from these pathways. So, you can play your way in, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually land on a team. It’s like winning a lottery ticket but then realizing you can’t cash it in. Five open lanes: two through the International Series, three through Promotions. None of these five players got signed to a team, so they’re the wild cards. Makes you wonder what the point is.
Team Rebrands and Regional Vibes
Two teams have rebranded: Iron Heads GC is now Korean GC, and Stinger GC is Southern Guards GC. It’s like they’re trying to give the league a facelift, but it’s still the same old structure underneath.And they’re really leaning into the national and regional identities. Korean GC is, shocker, all-Korean. Southern Guards GC is all-South African. Ripper GC is all-Australian. Majesticks are all-English. Fireballs GC is all-Spanish. Hy Flyers are all-American. Torque is all-Latin. It’s like a damn international summit, but with more golf clubs and less diplomacy.
Captain Swaps and New Leadership
Talor Gooch has stepped into the captaincy role for Smash GC, taking over from Brooks Koepka. And Ben An is the new captain for Korean GC, replacing Kevin Na. It’s a musical chairs game of captains, with guys shuffling around like they’re trying to find the last seat at the bar.
Ten New Faces (Mostly)
Ten players are joining LIV as full-time members for the first time. Two of them, Minkyu Kim and Younghan Song from Korean GC, have played on LIV before, so it’s not entirely new territory for them.Michael La Sasso is the big American signing, the reigning NCAA champ. Phil Mickelson snagged him for his Hy Flyers team. Good for him. Victor Perez is joining the Cleeks after a year on the PGA Tour where he apparently didn’t do much. Thomas Detry is linking up with Dustin Johnson and Thomas Pieters in the 4 Aces. He’s also the defending champ at the WM Phoenix Open, so his debut in Riyadh is definitely one to watch.Elvis Smylie is joining the all-Aussie Ripper GC. Ben An, Minkyu Kim, and Younghan Song are all joining Danny Lee on Korean GC, signed from free agency. And three new golfers will be playing as wild cards: Yosuke Asaji, Bjorn Hellgren, and Richard Lee. Let’s see if any of them can actually make a dent.
Who Ditched LIV? The Great Escape
Now for the juicy part. Who’s out? Six players got relegated: Henrik Stenson, Andy Ogletree, Mito Pereira, Jubin Yang, Frederik Kjettrup, and Anthony Kim. The first five are officially off LIV. We’ll get to Kim in a sec.Then there are the two who left on their own accord: Koepka and Reed. Can’t say I blame them, the whole thing is a bit of a train wreck. Kevin Na also left under murky circumstances, losing his captaincy in the process. His teammate Jinichiro Kozuma found out via social media that he was out too. Talk about a classy exit.Matt Jones was left hanging in free agency. Chieh-po Lee, who was a wild card in 2025, didn’t get picked up by anyone. Wade Ormsby, Ollie Schniederjans, Max Rotluff, and John Catlin also played as reserves in 2025, but none are on a full-time roster for 2026. It’s a revolving door, folks.
Anthony Kim's Comeback: A Glimmer of Hope?
Now, Anthony Kim. This guy’s story is something else. A 12-year hiatus from pro golf. He was relegated after scoring zero points all season, and his future looked bleak. But then he played his way back through the Promotions event. He’s earned his spot, and now he’s got to prove it. It’s a redemption story, or maybe just another chapter in the LIV saga. We’ll see.Scott Vincent, who played three LIV seasons, is back after winning the International Series. Laurie Canter, who played LIV early on, is joining the Majesticks. Luis Masaveu, who was a reserve in 2025, is now a full-time member of Fireballs GC. And Harold Varner III, who played for the Aces, has signed with Smash GC to fill Koepka’s spot.
Temporary Replacements and Lingering Questions
DP World Tour player Ben Schmidt is filling in for the injured Lee Westwood on the Majesticks. Ollie Schniederjans is taking over for Phil Mickelson on the HyFlyers. And Asian Tour player Miguel Tabuena is stepping in as the fourth “Ace” after Patrick Reed’s late departure. These all seem to be temporary gigs, with only three Aces listed on LIV’s website. So, there’s still one more announcement to come before the 2026 roster is finalized.Honestly, it’s hard to keep track of all the comings and goings. LIV Golf is a constant state of flux. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be another wild, unpredictable season. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, only time will tell. But don’t expect any boring moments. This league thrives on drama.For more insights into the ever-changing world of professional golf, check out Golf Digest. They usually have their finger on the pulse of this madness.So, there you have it. The LIV Golf 2026 roster is a chaotic mix of familiar faces, new blood, and a whole lot of uncertainty. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.