Relegation Battle Heats Up in LIV Golf: Who's at Risk?

Henrik Stenson and other stars in danger of being dumped

Read about the intense relegation drama in LIV Golf, where players like Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, and Anthony Kim are fighting for survival.

Henrik Stenson's fate was sealed on the final hole of the LIV Golf Indianapolis tournament last weekend. A par instead of a birdie pushed him down to 49th place in the 2025 LIV Golf Tour standings, resulting in his relegation ahead of the 2026 season. This outcome was a direct consequence of his teammate Ian Poulter's impressive performance.

The Dramatic Finish

Ian Poulter's Surge: Poulter carded four birdies in his last five holes, shooting a final-round 67, which propelled him past Stenson and secured his spot in the top 48.

Stenson's Missed Opportunity: Stenson's missed birdie putt on the final hole ultimately cost him, dropping him to 49th place and relegating him from the league.

Stenson, a 2016 Open Champion and Majesticks GC co-captain, had been with LIV Golf since its inaugural season in 2022. He even won his debut event at LIV Golf Bedminster, but this latest result puts his future in the league in doubt. Fortunately for Stenson and the other relegated players, there are pathways to return to the league, including the International Series or LIV Golf's Promotions Event.

Relegated Players

• Henrik Stenson: Majesticks GC, finished 49th with 6.12 point

• Andy Ogletree: HyFlyers GC, finished 50th with 5.53 points

• Mito Pereira: Torque GC, finished 51st with 5.10 points

• Yubin Jang: Iron Heads GC, finished 52nd with 1.28 points

• Anthony Kim: Wildcard, finished 53rd with 0 points

• Frederik Kjettrup: Cleeks Golf Club, finished 54th with 0 points

These players will have to explore alternative routes to regain their spots in the league.

Henrik Stenson finds himself in a tough spot, ranked among the six golfers relegated from LIV Golf for the 2026 season. With his current position, Stenson's spot on the tour is uncertain, and he'll need to act quickly to secure his future.

Pathways to Regain Eligibility:

LIV Promotions Event: A strong performance at LIV Golf's Q School equivalent could earn Stenson a spot back on the tour.

International Series: Stenson can also participate in the Asian Tour's International Series to potentially regain eligibility.

Key Challenges:

Inconsistencies: Stenson's inconsistent play has been a major issue in the 2025 campaign, and addressing these inconsistencies will be crucial for his success.

Competition: With only the top 24 players guaranteed spots in the Lock Zone, Stenson will face stiff competition from other golfers vying for a limited number of spots.

Henrik Stenson's decision to join LIV Golf was influenced by the lucrative financial offers backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Now, after finishing 49th in the 2025 LIV Golf Tour standings, Stenson faces relegation and uncertainty about his future in the league. A missed birdie putt on the final hole at LIV Golf Indianapolis sealed his fate, as teammate Ian Poulter's impressive finish propelled him past Stenson.

Consequences of Relegation:

PGA Tour Ban: Stenson will be banned from playing PGA Tour events for a year after his last LIV appearance, limiting his options.

🚨❌⛳️ JUST IN — Henrik Stenson has been relegated from the LIV Golf league and his time on the circuit will officially draw to a close. Teammates & co-captains Ian Poulter & Lee Westwood have secured enough points to finish inside the top 48. pic.twitter.com/mhuhfiaJTK

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 17, 2025

Uncertain Future: With relegation, Stenson's spot on the Majesticks GC team is also uncertain, and he'll need to fight for his place.

Henrik Stenson's future in professional golf is uncertain after he was relegated from the LIV Golf Tour. To regain his spot, Stenson might consider participating in the DP World Tour's Q-School or other qualifying events. However, given his previous resignation from the DP World Tour due to hefty fines for playing in LIV Golf events, it's unclear if this route would be viable for him.

Stenson's Past Issues with DP World Tour

Resignation: Stenson resigned from the DP World Tour in May 2023, citing the tour's sanctions against LIV Golf players as the reason.

Fines: He was reportedly fined between £50,000 and £75,000 per LIV Golf event, totaling around £500,000 to £750,000.

Rejoining: To rejoin the DP World Tour, Stenson would likely need to pay his outstanding fines and potentially face other penalties.

The DP World Tour has welcomed back some former LIV players, but it's uncertain if Stenson would be eligible to rejoin. Stenson's current priority might be to focus on his performance in the remaining LIV Golf events to avoid relegation.