LIV Golf doubles spots up for grabs in league via International Series, Promotions Event

AI-assisted summary
• LIV Golf is doubling the number of entry spots into the league for the 2026 season.
• Two spots will now be available through the International Series, up from one previously.
• The league's Promotions Event will also now award two spots to the top finishers.

In LIV Golf's quest for Official World Golf Ranking points, it was made clear that there needed to be more pathways into the league. The league's first regime did hardly anything to appease the OWGR board, but as had been the case with new CEO Scott O'Neil in his first year, he's continuing to make changes that suggest LIV Golf isn't going anywhere in the future.

On Monday, LIV Golf announced it was doubling the number of spots up for grabs in the league via two different pathways, the International Series and the league's Promotions Event, which will be held Jan. 8-11 at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.

"LIV Golf continues to expand pathways for players around the world to qualify into the first truly global golf league," said LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil in a release. "As fan interest in LIV Golf continues to increase and the opportunity to compete across the U.S., Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and the Middle East against some of the biggest names in golf grows, it’s only natural that we broaden access for talented, ambitious players to earn their way into the league."

The International Series, a set of elevated events sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will now offer two spots to the highest finishers in the season-long standings, not otherwise exempt, to join LIV Golf in 2026. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (325.59 points) and the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (221.19 points) sit in first and second place with two events remaining: the Moutai Singapore Open (Nov. 6-9) and the PIF Saudi International (November 19-22). Previously, the International Series offered only one spot to the highest finisher not otherwise exempt.

As for the Promotions Event, which will be hosted for the third time, now the top two finishers will earn spots in the league for 2026. The tournament will consist of four rounds of stroke-play over four days. The top-10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemption into the 2026 International Series. LIV Golf Promotions also offers a prize purse of $1.5 million.

As for the format, those who finish in the top 20 and ties from round one will advance to Friday’s round two, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition. The top-20 players and any ties following round two will advance to the third day of competition, with scores reset once more. An intense two-day, 36-hole shootout will commence, and at Sunday’s conclusion, the top two will earn their spots on LIV Golf in 2026, as well as $200,000 for first place and $150,000 for second place.

The field has yet to be announced, but leading players from all over the world will be eligible to participate. In addition, LIV Golf players without a team commitment for 2026 who finished the season in the standings’ Open Zone (25th-48th), as well as relegated players (49th-54th), have the opportunity to regain their playing rights for 2026.

A full list of exemptions into the Promotions Event is listed below:

Category A: Qualifiers for Round 1

1. 2025 Walker Cup and 2025 Palmer Cup Players
2. Runner-up of the following last played amateur events in 2025:
   1. U.S. Amateur
   2. British Amateur
   3. Asia-Pacific Amateur
   4. Latin America Amateur
   5. European Amateur
   6. African Amateur
   7. NCAA Championship (Individual)
   8. Eisenhower Trophy (Individual)
3. Leading 15 available players from within the top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings as of Dec. 15, 2025 (excluding players exempt into round 2)
4. Leading 25 available players from within the top 40 on the final 2025 International Series Rankings (excluding those players exempt into round two)
5. Winners of Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, KPGA Korean Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour-sanctioned tournaments in the 2025 calendar year (excluding those players exempt into round 2)
6. Leading 30 available players from within the top 300 Data Golf Rankings as of Dec. 15, 2025 (excluding those players 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. Top-15 players from World Amateur Golf Rankings as of Dec. 15, 2025
2. Winners of the following last played amateur events in 2025:
   1. U.S. Amateur
   2. British Amateur
   3. Asia-Pacific Amateur
   4. Latin America Amateur
   5. European Amateur
   6. African Amateur
   7. NCAA Championship (Individual)
   8. Eisenhower Trophy (Individual)
3. Leading 10 available players from the top 20 on the final 2025 International Series Rankings
4. Leading available player from each of the following professional Tours as of Dec. 15, 2025:
   1. Asian Tour
   2. Japan Golf Tour
   3. KPGA Korean Tour
   4. PGA Tour of Australasia
   5. Sunshine Tour
5. Winners of PGA Tour and DP World Tour-sanctioned tournaments in the 2024 and 2025 calendar years
6. Leading 10 available players from within the top 30 of the final 2025 DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Order of Merits / Rankings
7. Leading 20 available players from within the top 100 of the final 2025 PGA Tour FedEx Cup Standings
8. Leading 30 available players from within the top 150 Data Golf Rankings as of Dec. 15, 2025
9. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup participants from 2021-25
10. Winners of major championships from 2021-25
11. Players relegated or without a contract for the following season from the final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings
12. Invitations as determined by LIV Golf League