Jon Rahm‘s move to LIV Golf is making waves in the world of professional golf. Sergio Garcia, who captains Fireballs GC, couldn’t be happier to welcome a fellow Spanish player to the mix. Rahm’s debut with his team, Legion XIII, is eagerly anticipated at the season opener in Mayakoba, Mexico.
Switching teams from the PGA Tour to LIV in December with a deal said to be more than $300 million big, Rahm’s choice was huge news. His public support for Garcia shows the strong bond between players, especially when Garcia couldn’t play in the 2023 Ryder Cup because he joined LIV.
With Rahm on board, currently ranked third in the world and fresh off a Masters win, excitement’s bubbling up in LIV Golf which has now grown to 13 teams. This growth means some changes are needed for how the game is played and scored.
Anytimе you can havе a playеr thе quality of Jon in your lеaguе, it's amazing. Wе'rе vеry thankful to havе him hеrе. It's a grеat addition, not only with him but with (tеammatе Tyrrеll Hatton) and еvеryonе that is nеw in thе lеaguе. Wе couldn't bе happiеr. Sergio Garcia said Golf Australia.
The scoring rules are changing too. In the first two seasons of LIV Golf, for each round, only three out of four scores per team would count. But starting in 2024, that’ll change so that on the final day all team members’ scores will go towards their total. “It’s all about growing thе gamе, that’s what wе arе doing hеrе,” said Mеxico’s Carlos Ortiz, еxprеssing thе lеaguе’s broadеr mission.
LIV Golf’s new format and rules
LIV Golf has just grown to include 13 teams, and with that, they’ve changed how things work a little. Now, when the final round comes around, the scores of all four team members matter. That adds an exciting twist to the game!
The league wants to keep changing with the times but also hold on to what makes golf so thrilling. Newcomers Hudson Swafford and Laurie Canter have hopped into the Mayakoba event and are sure to stir up some excitement. With more players in the mix, the league has had to tweak how they rank them.
The top 24 players now have a safe spot – think of this as the ‘lock zone.’ Players ranked 25 to 48 are in what’s called the ‘open zone,’ while anyone ranking 49th or below is in danger of dropping out – this is known as the ‘drop zone.’ At season’s end, there will be a championship for 12 teams, but one team will have to sit it out – whichever team is last on the leaderboard.
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