On the back of recent news that Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf and now captains his own team (the 13th LIV team and first new team since its inception) news comes to hand that LIV have a few more signings. Where is this going and where will it end?
Australian Lucas Herbert has joined headline act Cam Smith in the all Aussie Ripper GC team, while 2022 Australian Open winner Adrian Meronk has joined the Cleeks GC.
The new player signings come ahead of the season-opening event, LIV Golf Mayakoba, hosted at El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Additionally, two Wild Card spots have been added to the 2024 field, where Wild Card players will compete each tournament independent of any team for individual prizes and the season-long Individual Championship race.
ROSTER UPDATES
After their performances at the inaugural LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi last December, qualifiers Kalle Samooja (Cleeks GC) and Jinichiro Kozuma (Iron Heads GC) have been confirmed for their respective teams. Additionally, Laurie Canter will play as a Wild Card at the first two tournaments, while Hudson Swafford will be a full-season Wild Card. Announcements on future Wild Card spots will be announced ahead of the events.
MERONK – The 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year, Meronk has established himself as one of the top European players in the world. Selected to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, he also became the first Polish player to earn membership on the DP World Tour and consequently made history with his victory at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open by becoming the first player from Poland to win on the DP World Tour.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge and next chapter of my career as I team up with Martin and the Cleeks,” said Meronk. “While I appreciate this decision didn’t come easy, joining LIV Golf is a very special moment for my career. The 2023 season made me feel that despite all of my successes, 287 days a year which I spent away from home is too many. The LIV schedule gives me more time with my loved ones and more space to work on every aspect of my game. While on LIV, I will remain passionately dedicated to supporting the next generation of golf in Poland."
SAMOOJA – The champion at 2023 LIV Golf Promotions, Samooja has tallied 12 professional victories over his career. He is just the sixth Finnish golfer all-time to win on the European Tour, winning the 2022 European Open and representing Finland at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
RIPPER GC – LUCAS HERBERT (AUSTRALIA)
HERBERT – The Aussie has four professional wins, three on the European Tour and one on the PGA Tour, including a 2021 Bermuda Championship win over current LIV Golf members Patrick Reed and Danny Lee. Has made 14 major championship starts, with his best finish coming as a tie for 13th at the 2022 PGA Championship.
“I’m very excited to team up with Cam on the all-Aussie Ripper GC squad this season. This is an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to begin this part of my career,” said Herbert. “I’m looking forward to teeing it up this week in Mayakoba and of course playing in front of our home country crowd in Adelaide in a few months.”
IRON HEADS GC – JINICHIRO KOZUMA (JAPAN)
KOZUMA – Having made three starts in the inaugural 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, two for Torque GC and one for Smash GC, Kozuma is primed to make his official full-season debut this year. Having notched four professional victories (all from Japan), Kozuma’s signing makes Iron Heads GC the first team to represent four different continents.
WILD CARDS – LAURIE CANTER (ENGLAND), HUDSON SWAFFORD (USA)
SWAFFORD – A member of LIV Golf during the 2022 Invitational Series, Swafford has notched three PGA Tour victories and in 2020 achieved a ranking of No.2 in the FedEx Cup rankings. Following his absence last year due to injury, the American aims to take advantage of another full-time opportunity with LIV Golf this season.
CANTER – A reserve player for the bulk of last season on Majesticks GC, Canter narrowly missed out on a full-time spot this season after his efforts at LIV Golf Promotions. The Brit produced a breakthrough season in 2020 after finishing 19th in the Race to Dubai following five Top 10 performances including two runner-up finishes at the Portugal Masters and Italian Open. Also, a member of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022.
LIV Golf competition begins Friday in Mexico, the kickoff to the league’s 14 tournament schedule in new and returning markets across the world. Fans are encouraged to sign up for free to LIV X to receive exclusive updates and access, including information on hospitality tickets and grounds passes for LIV Golf events which include live music and fan activities for all ages.