In the LIV golf season, the clock is ticking, and only a few weeks have passed, the trio faces a real threat of relegation.
European veterans and heroes of the sport, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood, are in desperate danger of being relegated to the Saudi-backed Tour.
The personal elements of the 2025 season of the Breakaway Tour will climax on August 24, which will be a grand deadline for some, with players in the top 48 and losing their 2026 spot.
In recent years, the Liv Powers above have shown flexibility to some of the most popular, struggling names in the sport.
Previously, despite exceeding the requirements, the likes of main hero Bubba Watson and South African low scorer Branden Grace still survived the axe.
But new LIV CEO Scott O’Neil won’t be that lenient. His dominance this year – downgrade is downgrade!
His stern stance means the LIV Tour may say goodbye to some of the most marketable players, but it seems to be the way behind their madness.
Despite the LIV Golf Tour boom, its players’ official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) did not, with leading players falling.
LIV has applied it to OWGR, hoping that its competitive structure will be taken more seriously and competitively preferred.
They hope it will increase the chances of entering the main champions they collided with the PGA Tour.
Ian Poulter is trapped in the “descending zone”
Former world-fifth and fan-favorite British Poulter is one of Liv’s most sold assets, and his content and imprint are invaluable.
But he is currently ranked 51st in Liv’s “Drop Zone” – anyone who has left Liv Golf’s league with 49 or less.
To win points and climb the rankings, golfers must rank in the top 24 in 54-man games per event, a feat of Pulte only once this season.
The highlight of the 49-year-old’s unusually dull 2025 season was the T13 completion of South Korea.
If the three-time PGA Tour winner does not find some serious points in the remaining three LIV events in the United States, he will be deported.
A major blow to both sides, Pulte lost big finances, identity and his Liv card, and the tour lost a name for a name.
And he is not alone.
Open champion and world number one before exile
Westwood (46) and Stenson (47) are not in the downward area, but are firmly tight and firm in the “open area”.
While the positive results for those below will automatically be downgraded if they end up in the descent area, they are firmly in open areas and at risk.
The open area is at 25 to 48 locations, where golfers in the area face potential trades or releases from their respective teams.
Poulter, Westwood and Stenson, both co-captains of the Majestics GC team, raised the question of whether their salesability outweighed the outcome of their collective inadequate effects.
Poulter is Ryder Cup Hero, Westwood is a former world No. 1, and Stenson won the famous fuchsia jug at the Royal Troon Open in 2016.
But if they don’t earn points for the next three games to ask LIV to be safe and keep its breathtaking salary check, their hero status may not matter.
This is a reality check for the trio.
If the worst happens on all or a star, the road back to the DP World Tour may open, though a competitive and financial step back.
However, the three resigned from membership after resigning in 2022, their defection to Liv is likely to have to pay all unfinished prior to rejoining.
There isn’t that attractive option, especially without more liv salary checks to cash out.
While the DP World Tour may welcome their star power with open arms, if they want to be part of Liv’s 2026 journey, the trio engages in real battles that require material results.
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