Report: LIV Golf Unhappy With Lack of Team Sponsorships, Also Reveals Penalty for Breaking Contract

A new report on some of the inner workings of LIV Golf’s present and future revealed some new details.

We had a report last week of a players’ meeting in Tucson where golfers discussed the jump from a planned 10 events to 14 in 2023, along with prize money for finishing in the top three of the team competition going into the franchise coffers instead of the golfers themselves.

Now, a report in Sports Illustrated reveals some new information about LIV’s plans for the future.

LIV Golf’s future plans could include an increase from 12 to 15 teams in 2024, with Monday qualifying possible. @AlexMiceli explains: https://t.co/mRWUAgHGAR pic.twitter.com/91TTMvlTEK

— SI Golf (@SI_Golf) March 28, 2023

Among the details:

• While LIV still owns each team, plans are to sell them off in the next couple of years. To that end, teams are ramping up staff and attempting to sell sponsorships. So far, only Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs team has a sponsor. The report states that LIV officials are complaining to teams that they’re not doing enough to generate revenue.
• If players were to have a change of heart and want to leave LIV Golf, it will cost them. As part of the standard contract golfers signed through the 2025 season, it would cost them anywhere from 2 to 4 times their signing bonus to terminate their contract early.
• There’s a possibility that three more teams of four could be added for the 2024 season. Adding 12 more golfers to the mix would still allow the league to do its 54-hole shotgun start.

🚨#NEW: Per @alexmiceli, if a LIV golfer were to break their contract with the league, it would mean a penalty worth 2-4X the value of their signing bonus. Additionally, Brooks Koepka is reportedly happy with the decision he made and said “I knew everything I was getting into.”…

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 28, 2023

There’s also a relegation process that will be put in place at the end of the 2023 season.

• The top-eight finishers in points will receive a two-year exemption.
• Finishers nine through 24 will get a one-year exemption.
• Positions 25 through 44 would essentially be free agents. They would be available to sign with teams but have no guarantee of playing in LIV events.
• Golfers finishing 45, 46, 47, and 48 in the standings will be relegated and would have to requalify to be eligible for the following season.

Interestingly enough, LIV Golf’s official website is very light on these details of how the league actually works. The report does mention that LIV will be announcing these procedures in the future.

Cover Image Via LIV Golf