LIV Golf Chicago saw Dean Burmester pip Jon Rahm to a playoff win, but the Spaniard has closed the gap on the leader, Joaquin Niemann, with one event to go and the $18m individual LIV Champion prize.
But it is down in the relegation zone where several golfing stars are battling to keep their LIV card and avoid a costly banishment from the lucrative circuit.
The LIV Golf standings are split into three zones: Lock, Open and Relegation.
The top 24 in the Lock Zone are guaranteed a LIV Golf card next year, while those outside the top 48 are in the Relegation Zone, which results in being dropped from the circuit at the end of the individual season.
Those sat between are in the Open Zone, where players can face a trade or even be released.
Ian Poulter – 52nd (Relegation Zone)
Ryder Cup hero, Ian Poulter, is the biggest name in immediate danger, having failed to put in the performance needed at LIV Chicago – a T39 dropping him to 52nd in the standings and a long way from the top 48 required to increase his chance of survival.
The weekend’s action was the latest instalment of the five-time PGA champion’s torrid season, where he’s finished inside the top 30 in just one of the 12 54-man events this season.
The former world number five’s struggles are highlighted by his fall to 52nd, where he now needs to leapfrog the likes of Luis Masaveu, a reserve who’s played just nine events.
Anthony Kim – 55th (Relegation Zone)
Fellow three-time PGA Tour winner Anthony Kim is also in desperate danger, with the American former world number eight parked at the pit of the drop zone in 55th and needing a miracle next weekend at LIV Indianapolis if he wants a Tour card next year.
Despite his glory years being over a decade ago, Kim’s struggles in 2025 have been stark, with the LIV Golf wildcard struggling to string together a meaningful weekend to date.
A star-studded quartet on the verge of the relegation zone
There are a series of high-profile golfing names who are lacking security in the Open Zone and on the verge of immediate expulsion if they fall into the relegation zone with a poor performance in Indianapolis.
From Ryder Cup sensations to Major Champions and PGA Tour veterans, the poor form of a series of household names could result in some devastating losses for LIV Golf fans, with their demise a real possibility.
Henrik Stenson – 48th (Open Zone)
The Swedish former Open Champion has struggled for his trademark accuracy this season, with the 49-year-old currently sitting in the final position of relative safety in 48th.
His T12 finish at LIV Adelaide near the start of the 2025 season was the only notable success this season, and he will need a similar result in the final event of the season if he wants to avoid those overtaking him and sealing his fate in the relegation zone.
Lee Westwood – 47th (Open Zone)
The former world number one is the third Majestics LIV team member who will be desperate to save their 2026 LIV Golf Tour card and then put the current season firmly behind them.
His last finish inside the top 35 came at Royal Portrush in The Open, with Westwood strangely struggling with the smaller field and shorter format of LIV Golf events.
He also needs a big finish in 2025 to keep chasers behind him from stealing his spot in the open zone.
Kevin Na – 44th (Open Zone)
Kevin Na was a popular personality on the PGA Tour who managed five event wins but has struggled to build any momentum in the 2025 LIV season.
The Iron Heads GC captain has not set the best example for his team, having not managed a top ten finish in 2025 and uncharacteristically coasted to 44th, an ominous position in the Open Zone where work is still needed.
Matthew Wolf – 42nd (Open Zone)
While several 2025 LIV Golf strugglers are in the latter stages of their competitiveness, Wolf is only 26th and has failed to build any consistency this year.
While the PGA Tour champion and former world number 12 would need things to go badly if he were to finish outside the top 48, he is only 26 years old, and his form this season and lack of clarity over his LIV future will be a great concern, having relinquished his PGA Tour card.
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