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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Woodard

LIV Golf free agency update: 10 open spots remain ahead of 2024 season

LIV Golf free agency is officially underway.

There are currently 10 openings across the 12 LIV Golf League teams ahead of the 2024 season, while four teams – Bryson DeChambeau’s defending champion Crushers GC, the three-captained Majesticks GC, Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC and the South African Stinger GC – all return their full teams.

The players in free agency are those who didn’t re-sign with their current teams from the top 24 in the season-long standings (the Lock Zone), as well as the players with expiring contracts who finished Nos. 25-44 (the Open Zone). Teams can fill their free roster spot by:

  • Signing another player in free agency
  • Signing an Open Zone player whose contract expired
  • Signing or trading for a player contracted with a different team
  • Signing an external player who was not a regular member of any 2023 LIV Golf team roster

LIV has minimum criteria for new players “to ensure the competitive integrity of the league,” and teams can’t recruit players under contract with another team without permission from that player’s current team. In other words: no tampering.

The free agency period will end when just four league roster spots remain. These spots are reserved for the winner of The International Series Rankings (Andy Ogletree) and the top three finishers from LIV Golf Promotions.

Here’s how each team currently stands at the start of LIV Golf free agency.

4Aces GC

4Aces GC team members Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Peter Uihlein celebrate winning the team competition of the LIV Golf London golf tournament at Centurion Club. (Photo: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports)

Dustin Johnson and his 2022 team champions have one roster spot available, as Pat Perez is no longer under contract. Perez can still re-sign with the Aces, or Johnson can look elsewhere. Peter Uihlein signed a contract extension after his 12th-place finish in 2023, and Patrick Reed will also return in 2024.

Cleeks GC

Captain Martin Kaymer of Cleeks GC reacts on the ninth green during Day One of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on Oct. 20, 2023 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks are in desperate need of a new team name as well as two new players, as Bernd Wiesberger and Graeme McDowell (Nos. 41 and 42 in the 2023 standings) are now free agents.

Kaymer finished in a relegation spot but remains exempt as a captain, and Richard Bland has re-signed with the team.

Crushers GC

Charles Howell III, Captain Bryson DeChambeau, Anirban Lahiri and Paul Casey of Crushers GC celebrate after winning the team championship on Day Three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on Oct. 22, 2023 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Captain Bryson DeChambeau will return his full slate of players after the Crushers claimed the 2023 team championship. Anirban Lahiri was the squad’s only player with an expiring contract but has accepted an extension. Charles Howell III and Paul Casey remain under contract.

Fireballs GC

Captain Sergio Garcia of Fireballs GC speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on Oct. 18, 2023 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Sergio Garcia’s squad has an open spot after Carlos Ortiz declined a contract extension. Abraham Ancer and Eugenio Chacarra return to join Garcia.

HyFlyers GC

Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Mickelson talked about the open position on his team at the final event of the season after James Piot finished in the relegation zone. Both Cameron Tringale and Brendan Steele will return.

Iron Heads GC

Captain Kevin Na of Iron Heads GC hits his shot from the fifth tee during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club on August 11, 2023 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Sihwan Kim finished in a relegation spot leaving captain Kevin Na with a free spot on his team. Scott Vincent accepted an extension, and Danny Lee remains under contract for next season.

Majesticks GC

Co-Captain Ian Poulter and Co-Captain Lee Westwood of Majesticks GC look on from the eighth fairway during Day One of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on Oct. 20, 2023 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Another full team returns, but should they? The trio of captains Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood are all back, same with Sam Horsfield. The Majesticks finished 11th out of 12 last season, just ahead of the Iron Heads.

RangeGoats GC

Captain Bubba Watson of the RangeGoats GC attends a press conference during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on Oct. 19, 2023 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats are also all returning, with 2023 individual champion Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III and Thomas Pieters all still under contract.

Ripper GC

Cameron Smith celebrates after winning the LIV Golf Bedminster golf tournament at Trump National Bedminster. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Cameron Smith’s all-Aussie side has two openings with Matt Jones in free agency and Jediah Morgan relegated. Smith and Marc Leishman are the only two confirmed players for 2024.

Smash GC

Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship Miami at Trump National Doral. (Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)

It looks like Matt Wolff may return for captain Brooks Koepka’s side after the two had a difficult season together, same with Jason Kokrak. Koepka’s brother, Chase Koepka, was relegated, leaving Smash with a free spot.

Stinger GC

Louis Oosthuizen reacts on the 10th tee during the ProAm round of the LIV Golf Bedminster golf tournament at Trump National Bedminster. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

All four players return for captain Louis Oosthuizen’s team as Branden Grace, Dean Burmester and Charl Schwartzel all remain under contract.

Torque GC

Torque GC celebrates after winning the team portion of the 2023 LIV Golf Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama in Cadiz, Spain. (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz return for Joaquin Niemann’s team, while David Puig has entered free agency.

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