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Remember when LIV Golf sold itself as the players’ paradise? The league promised unprecedented freedom, massive guaranteed money, and a better work-life balance. Phil Mickelson spoke glowingly about “excitement and energy” when he joined in 2022. Dustin Johnson pocketed a reported $200 million just for signing. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau each secured deals worth $125 million to $ 130 million upfront. That era has ended. The league has fundamentally changed its approach heading into 2026. According to reports from @flushingitgolf, LIV Golf is currently negotiating with all players whose contracts are set to expire. Most have already agreed to new deals. However, these contracts bear little resemblance to the eye-popping guarantees that once defined the league. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad LIV Golf announced that contract renewals would no longer include massive upfront payments. Instead, compensation now shifts to performance-based earnings through tournament prize money. This marks a dramatic departure from the league’s original strategy. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The new approach extends beyond just eliminating signing bonuses. Franchises are now using data analysis models borrowed from the sports betting world to identify talent. Teams want players who fit LIV’s unique format and can deliver immediate results. Team purses are doubling from $5 million to $10 million in 2026. This makes the upcoming off-season the most critical yet for franchise building. Phil Mickelson, whose $200 million contract expires at the end of 2025, has remained notably quiet about the policy shift. His silence stands in stark contrast to his vocal advocacy for the league back in 2022. The HyFlyers captain now faces his own contract negotiations under these dramatically different terms. The stakes couldn’t be higher. At least six roster spots need filling after the 2025 relegation bloodbath. Sources confirm LIV is actively pursuing several PGA Tour and DP World Tour players. Yet without those massive upfront guarantees, closing these deals becomes significantly harder. The league must now compete on different terms than the shock-and-awe recruitment that launched it. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad LIV Golf’s Drop Zone System Claims Six Players The league’s relegation system proved ruthless this year. Six players fell into the dreaded “Drop Zone” after finishing 49th or lower in the season-long standings. The most shocking casualty? Henrik Stenson, the 2016 Open Champion and Majesticks GC co-captain. Stenson finished with just 6.12 points. Ironically, his teammate Ian Poulter escaped relegation by birdying four of his last five holes. The margin between safety and elimination? Just 0.38 points. That’s essentially one shot separating their entire futures. Anthony Kim’s comeback story ended in disappointment. He never earned a single point across 23 LIV events over two seasons. His best finish was T29 at Miami. The league granted him no reprieve this time. Andy Ogletree, Mito Pereira, Yubin Jang, and Frederik Kjettrup also lost their spots. Meanwhile, players ranked 25th through 48th sit in the “Open Zone.” This group faces serious uncertainty. Teams can trade or release them at will. Big names like Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton, and Richard Bland now await their fate. Their contracts no longer guarantee anything. Relegated players have limited pathways back. They can compete in December’s LIV Promotions Event in Riyadh. Strong performances on the Asian Tour’s International Series offer another route. Teams can also make a “business case” to retain specific players. However, LIV eliminated that option for most relegated players under the new rules. The transformation from Greg Norman’s era of nine-figure guarantees to Martin Kaymer’s “performance, not signature” philosophy is now complete. Teams analyze data in a manner similar to professional sports franchises. Performance determines everything. The guaranteed money safety net has vanished, and players must deliver results or lose their spots entirely.
