Here’s everything you need to know as the captains and general managers finalize the rosters for their LIV Golf teams for 2026…
JUMP TO: LIV GOLF TEAMS FOR 2026
The LIV Golf teams for the 2026 season have all now been confirmed.
Before we get into the details, a quick reminder of how it works…
Who automatically qualifies for the new season – and who doesn’t?
Those who finish in the top 24 – or the ‘Lock Zone’ – of the 2025 LIV Golf standings were all automatically offered a contract for 2026 with their current team. They do have the option to decline, in which case they would become a free agent and can be signed by another team. The Lock Zone is expected to be extended this year.
Those who finished in the Open Zone – 25th to 48th – can be re-signed by their teams if they are out of contract or continue competing for the franchise they are attached to if their existing deal includes the 2026 season. They can also be traded from one team to another or be released if their contract has expired.
Players who finished in the Drop Zone – 49th or below – are relegated from the league. They remain eligible to return to the league via LIV Golf Promotions or the International Series – but more on those later. Like the Lock Zone, the Drop Zone is expected to be expanded from 2026.
How does free agency and recruiting work?
Any players who finished in the Lock Zone but decline the automatic contract extension with their current team become a free agent, as do any players in the Open Zone whose contracts have expired.
The means team captains and GMs can add to their roster in one of the following ways:
Signing a free agent
Signing a player contracted to another team
Agreeing to trade contracted players – with the other team’s approval
Recruiting players not contracted to LIV Golf
Signing a player who qualifies via the LIV Golf Promotions event or the International Series
Speaking of which…
How can a player earn a LIV Golf contract?
The top two players in this year’s International Series Rankings were offered a spot on LIV Golf for the 2026 season. Previously, only one player from the Asian Tour’s season-long standings earned a place.
Another route in is the LIV Golf Promotions tournament – which is essentially the league’s version of Q-School.
The top three finishers are handed a spot in the league, while the top 10, including ties, also earn full exemption for the Asian Tour’s International Series.
All five of the players who earn spots via the International Series and LIV Golf Promotions will play as wildcards in the new 57-man field for the 2026 season.
2026 LIV Golf teams
Let’s break it down on a team-by-team basis…
4Aces GC
Captain Dustin Johnson has signed a new three-year-deal to keep him at LIV Golf until at least 2029.
There has been one significant change to his lineup, with reigning WM Phoenix Open champion Thomas Detry joining his Belgian compatriot Thomas Pieters and 4Aces original Patrick Reed. Harold Varner III has left to make way for the new signing – but he will remain on LIV Golf.
2026 roster: Dustin Johnson (c), Thomas Detry, Thomas Pieters, Patrick Reed
Cleeks Golf Club
The first major signing of the 2026 offseason was by the Cleeks, who snapped up three-time DP World Tour winner Victor Perez. The Frenchman replaces relegated Frederik Kjettrup in the lineup.
2026 roster: Martin Kaymer (c), Richard Bland, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez
Crushers GC
The Crushers camp has confirmed their roster will remain the same, following three team victories during the 2025 campaign.
2026 roster: Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri
Fireballs GC
Sergio Garcia has an all-Spanish quartet for the 2026 season after signing a multi-year contract extension with the league.
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, who joined Torque GC during the offseason, has been replaced by Luis Masaveu.
Masaveu was originally dropped by the Fireballs midway through 2025 to accommodate the signing of Josele Ballester, but the 23-year-old has been brought straight back into the mix.
“Returning to Fireballs GC and LIV Golf reinforces everything we are building,” Garcia said. “With David and Josele playing well in 2025 and Luis joining the team for 2026, our identity and competitive edge are stronger than ever.”
Garcia also confirmed that the team will remain as Fireballs GC for the 2026 season, with the ‘Real Club de Toros GC’ rebrand likely to happen ahead in the 2027 offseason.
2026 roster: Sergio Garcia (c), Josele Ballester, Luis Masaveu, David Puig
Hyflyers GC
Andy Ogletree finished in the Drop Zone in 2025 and has been replaced by Michael La Sasso – the reigning NCAA Men’s champion who turned pro – and gave up his spot in the Masters field – to turn pro and join Phil Mickelson’s team.
2026 roster: Phil Mickelson (c), Michael La Sasso, Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale
Korean Golf Club
It is all-change at the rebranded Korean Golf Club. Formerly Iron Heads GC, PGA Tour star Byeong-hun An has replaced Kevin Na as captain and fellow Koreans Minkyu Kim and Younghan Song, both LIV reserves in 2025, have joined his team. Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma was the highest-ranked player on the team last season but has been dropped. Danny Lee remains.
2026 roster: Byeong-hun An (c), Minkyu Kim, Danny Lee, Younghan Song
Legion XIII
After winning the 2025 Team Championship, the Legion XIII roster has remained the same.
2026 roster: Jon Rahm (c), Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Caleb Surratt
Majesticks GC
Relegated co-captain Henrik Stenson has been replaced by Laurie Canter – a former LIV Golf reserve who has filled in for the injured Sam Horsfield in the Majesticks lineup. It means the Majesticks will have an all-English lineup for 2026 – and they have celebrated the news with a rebrand.
Majesticks GC has had a rebrand after relegated Henrik Stenson was replaced by Laurie Canter to create an all-English LIV Golf team.
Lee Westwood said the rebrand, which features an English bulldog and the colours of the Union Flag, “represents who we are and what we stand for”.… pic.twitter.com/DFxLahvDlo
— Today’s Golfer (@TheTodaysGolfer) January 7, 2026
2026 roster: Ian Poulter (c), Lee Westwood (c), Laurie Canter, Sam Horsfield
RangeGoats GC
The RangeGoats were expected make at least one change ahead of the 2026 season after Ben Campbell, who finished in the Open Zone, was listed in the field for the LIV Golf Promotions event.
But in a somewhat surprise move, Campbell withdrew from Promotions and was recalled, meaning Bubba Watson’s team remains the same for 2026.
2026 roster: Bubba Watson (c), Ben Campbell, Peter Uihlein, Matt Wolff
Ripper GC
Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC made one change for the 2026 campaign, with Matt Jones – who finished in the Open Zone last year – replaced by talented young DP World Tour winner Elvis Smylie.
2026 roster: Cameron Smith (c), Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Elvis Smylie
Smash GC
Having been rocked by the sensational departure of captain Brooks Koepka, Smash GC were quick to declare Talor Gooch would be taking the reins.
“I want to start by thanking Brooks,” Gooch said in a statement released on the LIV Golf website. “He is one of the greatest competitors in the game and I have learned so much from him while being his teammate on Smash GC. He’s a friend and teammate, and I have great respect for his decision. I wish him, Jena, and their family all the best.
“Looking ahead, I am incredibly honored and excited to officially take on the captaincy role for the 2026 season. I’m excited and ready to embrace this new leadership and career challenge. I’m eager to build on the competitive standard Brooks established and work with our players to lead this team into this next successful chapter.”
Gooch has replaced the void in his team with Harold Varner III, who joins from Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces.
2026 roster: Talor Gooch (c), Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell, Harold Varner III
Southern Guards GC
Stinger GC has now rebranded to Southern Guards GC. The all-South African lineup will remain the same.
2026 roster: Louis Oosthuizen (c), Dean Burmester, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel
Torque GC
Abraham Ancer traded to Joaquin Niemann’s Torque for the new season to replace the relegated Mito Pereira. It means all members of the 2026 Torque roster finished in the top 12 of the individual standings this year.
“Abraham is a proven winner and a fierce competitor, and we’re proud to welcome him to Torque GC,” Torque captain Niemann. “As a fully Latin American team, we play with shared pride, duty, and purpose, and Abraham embodies that. His addition makes us stronger and deepens the bond that drives everything we do.”
2026 roster: Joaquin Niemann (c), Abraham Ancer, Sebastian Munoz, Carlos Ortiz
2026 LIV Golf Wildcards
In alphabetical order, the five wildcards making up the 57-man field each week will be…
Yosuke Asaji: The Japanese player claimed the second of two LIV Golf spots offered through the International Series Rankings. He has six wins across the Japan Tour and Asian Tours.
Bjorn Hellgren: The Swede qualified via the LIV Golf Promotions and has eight professional wins across the Nordic Golf League, Swedish Golf Tour, and Asian Tour – most recently in December at the Saudi Open presented by PIF. He is also one of Brooks Koepka’s closest friends, having roomed and played with the five-time major champ at Florida State University.
Anthony Kim: AK spent last two seasons as a wildcard player on LIV Golf after returning to competitive golf following a 12-year break. The American, who won three PGA Tour events and represented Team USA in the 2008 Ryder Cup, ranked as high as sixth in the world in 2008. He earned his way straight back into LIV Golf after being relegated last year.
Richard T Lee: The Canadian shot rounds of 64, 66, 64, and 65 to win the LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida by five shots. Lee qualified for the 2007 US Open as a 16-year-old, becoming the second-youngest player ever to take part. He has six professional wins split across the Asian and Korean Tours.
Scott Vincent: Vincent earned a spot on LIV by topping the 2025 International Series standings. The Zimbabwean has already played three seasons on LIV Golf – with Torque GC in 2022 and then the Iron Heads in ’23 and ’24 – before being relegated. Prior to that, he plied his trade mainly on the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour, amassing five wins. He represented Zimbabwe at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, being the first Zimbabwean golfer to do so.