LIV Golf announces details of 2024 Promotions Event. Its critics will have a field day.

The LIV Golf League has announced details of its upcoming Promotions event – and critics of the Saudi-funded circuit are set to have a field day.

Taking place at Riyadh Golf Club from December 12-14, the competition is in its second year and is described as “presenting exciting pathways for elite players from across the globe to earn their place in the league.”

That’s “place”, singular.

In a significant change from last year’s inaugural event, this year’s LIV Golf Promotions will offer only one spot into the league for 2025, down from three spots 12 months ago.

In what is sure to be perceived by many as further evidence that the circuit is a “closed shop”, bunkered.co.uk understands that the decision has been taken in order to allow the league’s 13 teams greater flexibility when it comes to setting their line-ups.

In other words, they will be largely able to choose their own rosters rather than have a “promoted” player forced upon them.

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Last year, Kalle Samooja, Kieran Vincent and Jinichiro Kozuma earned league places through the Promotions event.

Both Samooja and Vincent finished in the relegation zone and will have to go through the Promotions event if they want to make an instant return to the league. Kozuma, meantime, finished 45th on the season-long individual standings, only four places and six points above the so-called ‘Drop Zone’.

How does LIV Golf Promotions work?

Starting Thursday, December 12, those who finish in the top-20 and ties from round one will advance to Friday’s second round, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who received a bye into day two.

The top-20 players following round two advance to the final day of competition, with scores reset once more, for an intense 36-hole shootout. At the close of play, the winner will earn $200,000 and a place in the LIV Golf League for 2025.

The top-10 finishers and ties, meantime, will earn full exemptions into all 2025 events on The International Series, sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

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“Those who have competed in the LIV Golf League consistently share similar feedback: the energy, camaraderie, and global competition have created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for players to pursue their dreams at the highest level,” said LIV Golf commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

“LIV Golf Promotions delivers another pathway for up-and-coming players and top competitors across the globe to experience a life-changing season with LIV, and we’re eager to see who steps up this year in Riyadh.”

The Promotions event will be available globally live and on-demand via LIV Golf Plus, the LIV Golf YouTube channel and broadcast partners around the world.

Elsewhere, bunkered.co.uk understands that LIV Golf has not ruled out the prospect of adding an additional team to the league for 2025 – in much the same way as that accommodation was made to attract Jon Rahm’s signature 12 months ago – whilst discussions are reported to be ongoing with Anthony Kim about extending his involvement into next year. The former Ryder Cup winner played in the league this year as one of its two ‘wild cards’.

LIV Golf Promotions 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Category A: Qualifiers for Round 1

1. Members of the 2023 Walker Cup and 2024 Palmer Cup Teams

2. Winner and runner-up of the following last played amateur events:

a. US Amateur Championship
b. The Amateur Championship
c. Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
d. Latin America Amateur Championship
e. European Amateur Championship
f. African Amateur Championship
g. NCAA Championship (Individual)
h. Eisenhower Trophy (Individual)

3. Leading 15 available players from within the top 40 World Amateur Golf Rankings as of November 19, 2024 (excluding players exempt into round 2)

4. Leading 25 available players from within the top 40 on the final 2024 International Series Rankings (excluding those exempt into round two)

5. Leading 5 available players from inside the top 10 from each of the following professional Tours as of November 19, 2024:

a. Japan Golf Tour
b. KPGA Korean Tour
c. Sunshine Tour
d. PGA Tour of Australasia

6. Leading 30 available players from within the top 300 in The Universal Golf Rankings (TUGR) as of November 19, 2024 (excluding those who are exempt into Round 2)

7. Invitations as determined by LIV Golf League

Category B: Exemptions into Round 2

The following players are exempt from Round 1 and are automatically eligible to participate in Round 2:

1. Leading 2 available players from within the top 15 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings as of November 19, 2024

2. Players ranked 2 to 8 on the final 2024 International Series Rankings

3. Top 3 Players from each of the following professional Tours as of November 19, 2024

a. Japan Golf Tour
b. KPGA Korean Tour
c. Sunshine Tour
d. PGA Tour of Australasia

4. Leading 5 available players from within the top 30 of the Final 2024 DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Order of Merits / Rankings

5. Winners of The International Series and Asian Tour sanctioned tournaments in the 2024 calendar year

6. Winners of Japan Golf Tour, KPGA Korean Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia sanctioned tournaments in the 2024 calendar year

7. Winners of PGA Tour and DP World Tour sanctioned tournaments in the 2023 and 2024 calendar years

8. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup participants from 2019 – 2024

9. Winners of Major Championships from 2019 – 2024

10. Leading 15 available players from within the top 150 in The Universal Golf Rankings (TUGR) as of November 19, 2024

11. Players relegated or without a contract for the following season from the final 2024 LIV Golf Individual Standings

12. Invitations as determined by LIV Golf League

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content