LIV opens 2024 induction window as teams look to boost rosters

From a Correspondent

LIV Golf has launched it’s first transfer window with player movement, free agency and new team rosters in progress as momentum builds for the second full season teeing off in 2024.

LIV Golf’s team and individual format features two season-long leaderboards, with points earned at each tournament. In 2023, RangeGoats GC’s Talor Gooch won the individual title while Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC claimed the team championship.

The individual standings are broken down into three categories, with final positions determining a player’s status in the league:

Lock Zone: Players finishing in the Top 24 secure an opportunity with the league next season

Open Zone: Players finishing 25^th to 44th whose contracts are expiring become free agents 

Drop Zone: Those finishing 45th and below are relegated and automatically qualify for LIV Golf Promotions for the chance to earn their spot back next season

There are several phases to offseason player movement as teams prepare for next season:

Phase I

Players who finished in the Lock Zone of the individual standings at the conclusion of the regular season are guaranteed an opportunity to play in the 2024 LIV Golf League.

In Phase One, currently underway, players in the top 24 whose contracts expire at the end of 2023 are offered a minimum one-year contract extension by their existing team.

The five players who are extension eligible are Peter Uihlein (12th, 4Aces GC), Anirban Lahiri (13th, Crushers GC), Carlos Ortiz (15th, Fireballs GC), Richard Bland (20th, Cleeks GC) and Scott Vincent (22nd, Iron Heads GC).

If a player in this group decides not to accept the offer from his current team, he will become a free agent and may be signed by another team with an open roster spot.

Phase II

Phase Two marks the start of free agency. In addition to any top 24 players who opt to become free agents, players who finished in the Open Zone whose contracts also expire at the end of 2023 are free agents.

These players may be re-signed by their previous team or can negotiate a contract with another team that has an open roster spot.

Players who finished in the Open Zone and are no longer under contract are Pat Perez (28th, 4Aces GC), David Puig (31st, Torque GC), Matt Jones (37th, Ripper GC), Bernd Wiesberger (41st, Cleeks GC), and Graeme McDowell (42nd, Cleeks GC).

Teams are not obligated to re-sign their free agents from the Open Zone and can instead create an open roster spot. Teams with open spots have the option to:

1. Sign a Top 24 player who opted to enter free agency
2. Sign any player in the Open Zone whose contract has expired
3. Sign or trade for a player contracted with a different team if agreed upon by both teams
4. Sign an external player meeting minimum pre-determined criteria who was not a regular member of any 2023 LIV Golf team roster

Free agency will conclude when four league roster spots remain. These spots are reserved for the winner of the International Series rankings and the top three finishers from the promotion event.

Phase III

LIV Golf Promotions present a pathway for the world’s leading amateur and professional golfers to play in the league in 2024.

The inaugural tournament will be staged from December 8 to 10 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club with four rounds of golf played over three days, including 36 holes played on the final day.

LIV Golf Promotions will offer overall prize money of $1.5 million, and the top three finishers will earn a place on one of LIV Golf’s teams next season and exemption into all 14 LIV Golf League events in 2024.

Leading players from all over the world will be eligible to participate and in an interesting twist, the PGA Tour has allowed its members to participate.

In addition, players finishing in the Drop Zone, and those without a team contract for 2024 who finished in the Open Zone also have the opportunity to regain their playing rights for 2024.

The deadline for players to register is November 20.

Trades and drafts

Through the off season, teams may trade players from their current rosters, providing the trade is approved by both teams.

Teams looking to strengthen their rosters once the season has begun can use a mid-season trading window in 2024 (TBA) where teams and players will be free to negotiate trades as well as extensions to their existing contracts if a player is in the last year of his contract.

Following LIV Golf Promotions, the league will host the LIV Golf Draft through which the winner of the International Series Rankings and the top three finishers in LIV Golf Promotions will be drafted into teams with spots available. (courtesy livgolf.com)

Also read: Crushers sweep to LIV Golf team title victory as Lahiri delivers big