The 2024 LIV Golf League season reached the halfway stage after its Singapore event at Sentosa Golf Club.
During coverage of the second round of the event, presenter Jim Foltz revealed that, for the first time, the League would have a mid-season transfer window. So, what exactly does it entail?
Here are the key points you need to know about LIV Golf's inaugural mid-season transfer window.
What Is The LIV Golf Mid-Season Transfer Window?
Greg Norman has explained the reason for the transfer window
The mid-season transfer window has been introduced to "support opportunities for teams to improve their rosters during the season."
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said: “As LIV Golf grows, the League will continue to establish opportunities to strengthen the competition. By opening a trade window midway through the season, all 13 teams have an opportunity to fine-tune their rosters and assess their team’s composition and performance.
“LIV Golf is delivering another exciting opportunity for professional golf that aligns with the traditions of many team sports around the globe, promoting strategic player moves and enriched team storylines.”
When Is The LIV Golf Mid-Season Transfer Window Open?
The transfer window opened days after LIV Golf Singapore
After seven tournaments so far this season, with the most recent two coming in the last two weeks, there is now a mid-season break of a month, offering time for teams to tinker with their rosters via the window.
The window opened three days after LIV Golf Singapore, on Wednesday 8 May, and closes on Sunday 9 June - that's the date of the final round of the next tournament on the LIV Golf schedule, in Houston.
What Are The Rules Of The Transfer Window?
Teams can agree straight trades during the window
The window allows teams to agree to straight swaps of players with other teams with the stipulations that both teams must agree to the trade and modifications to players’ contracts can't take place.
Additionally, players in the final year of their contracts can agree to extensions with their existing teams. However, those extensions would be voided if the player ended the season in the Drop Zone.
What Is The Current State Of Play?
Talor Gooch moved from Range Goats GC to Smash GC in the winter
The inaugural LIV Golf transfer window took place after the 2023 season, introducing the first-ever trades in professional golf.
There was plenty of activity during it, too, with 4 Aces captain Dustin Johnson acquiring Harold Varner III in a trade with Range Goats GC for Peter Uihlein.
RangeGoats GC, captained by Bubba Watson, then signed Matthew Wolff from Smash GC, with Talor Gooch heading the other way to Brooks Koepka’s team.
Carlos Ortiz, who had been with Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC, signed with Torque GC and that freed up a space for Open Zone free agent David Puig to sign for Garcia's team.
The next few weeks will likely see similar activity, although one team that won't be doing any business is Majesticks GC. The team, co-captained by Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, who are safe even if they finish in the Drop Zone, only have one tradeable teammate, Sam Horsfield.
What Happens At The End Of The Season?
The season finishes with the LIV Golf Promotions tournament
Players finishing in the top 24 of the individual standings at the end of the 13th event (before the season-closing Team Championship) are in the Lock Zone and secure their 2025 spot in the League.
Players finishing between 25 and 48 are in the Open Zone. Stars in it who are out of contract will need to be re-signed by their team or picked up by another team.
Players finishing 49 and below are in the Drop Zone and are relegated out of the League. However, they will have a final chance to earn a place in the 2025 season as they qualify for the 2024 LIV Golf Promotions tournament.
What Are The Current LIV Golf Team Rosters
Some LIV Golf rosters may change over the next few weeks
- 4 Aces GC: Dustin Johnson (captain), Pat Perez, Patrick Reed, Harold Varner III
- Cleeks GC: Martin Kaymer (captain), Richard Bland, Kalle Samooja, Adrian Meronk
- Crushers CG: Bryson DeChambeau (captain), Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III
- Fireballs GC: Sergio Garcia (captain), Abraham Ancer, Eugenio Chacarra, David Puig
- Hy Flyers GC: Phil Mickelson (captain), Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale, Andy Ogletree
- Iron Heads GC: Kevin Na (captain), Scott Vincent, Danny Lee, Jinichiro Kozuma
- Legion XIII GC: Jon Rahm (captain), Tyrrell Hatton, Kieran Vincent, Caleb Surratt
- Majesticks GC: Ian Poulter (co-captain), Lee Westwood (co-captain), Henrik Stenson (co-captain), Sam Horsfield
- Range Goats GC: Bubba Watson (captain), Thomas Pieters, Matthew Wolff, Peter Uihlein
- Ripper GC: Cameron Smith (captain), Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert
- Smash GC: Brooks Koepka (captain), Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell
- Stinger GC: Louis Oosthuizen (captain), Dean Burmester, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel
- Torque GC: Joaquin Niemann (captain), Sebastian Munoz, Mito Pereira, Carlos Ortiz
-
Is Your Golf Swing Failing You? This All-Encompassing Drill Can Instantly Save ItAre you struggling with your golf swing? Discover the all-encompassing drill that can fix common swing faults and restore your game. Get back on track today!
-
I've Always Struggled To Create That Solid, Compressed Strike... Until I Fixed These 5 Key MovesSingle figure golfer Jess Ratcliffe on how she has fixed her swing puzzle to deliver crisp shots
-
Carlos Ortiz 'Overjoyed' To Earn Open Championship Spot After Pulling Away From LIV Rivals During International Series Macau VictoryThe Mexican finished with a blistering six-under 64 to earn his second Asian Tour prize and clinch a spot at the 153rd Open Championship
-
LIV Golf Leaderboard At International Series Macau - Open Spots Up For Grabs As Multiple LIV Pros In Contention Going Into Final DayAfter a busy Moving Day at Macau Golf and Country Club, a number of LIV golfers are in contention for the victory and a potential spot at The Open Championship
-
'If We Want To Figure Out Why The Game Of Golf Is Not Back Together, Go Ask Those Guys' - Scottie Scheffler Insists LIV Golfers To Blame For Golf's Big DivideScottie Scheffler reiterated his stance that LIV golfers were to blame for the continued split in men's pro golf, while insisting the PGA Tour still had a better standard
-
Paul McGinley Proposes ‘One Of The Things That I Think LIV Have Got Right’ To Be Applied To PGA TourThe Golf Channel analyst thinks a key change implemented by LIV Golf could make all the difference to the PGA Tour
-
Joaquin Niemann Wins LIV Golf Singapore TitleThe Chilean won his second LIV Golf event of the season thanks to a bogey-free 65 on Sunday in Singapore
-
Jon Rahm Equals Bryson DeChambeau's LIV Golf Record After Strong Start In SingaporeThe Legion XIII captain matched Bryson DeChambeau's record for consecutive scores under-par in the second round of LIV Golf Singapore
-
‘I Think It’s Dead, I Think The Other Side Is Gone’ - Lee Trevino Gives Take On PGA Tour-LIV Golf Divide And Calls For Players And Caddies To Speed UpLee Trevino was full of praise for the PGA Tour and its immediate future, as he believes that a deal with the Saudi PIF may not come at all
-
Dustin Johnson Goes From Worst To First At LIV Golf SingaporeAfter finishing dead last a week ago, Dustin Johnson fired a brilliant 63 to lead LIV Golf Singapore by three to quieten all the talk about his struggles
