Bubba Watson has completed a year to forget in Chicago at LIV Golf. Even his good scorecard today of four under par, with a notable streak of four birdies in five holes halfway through his round, has not been enough to disguise his overall performance. He ends the year in 53rd place in the ranking, only ahead of Kieran Vincent and Hudson Swafford, among the golfers who have played all year. Very poor.
In previous years, the left-handed bomber, winner of two green jackets at Augusta, would not have had to worry about anything, as his future at LIV Golf, as team captain, specifically of the Range Goats, was absolutely secure. However, this year is not the same. As Ten Golf reported this week, last Tuesday, during a meeting with the teams, the rectors of LIV warned that this year all those who finish from 49th place downwards can be relegated, including team captains.
The announcement was surprising, as even in the media guide provided by LIV Golf it is specified that team captains cannot be fired from the Saudi league even if they finish in last position. In any case, this was stated at the aforementioned meeting with the teams and now we will have to see what happens with Bubba Watson. His best result in 2024 was a 15th in Las Vegas.
Will he be the first team captain of LIV Golf to lose his membership status? What would happen to him? Would he play the LIV Promotion School? Moreover, will there be a promotion school at LIV this year? Is there any way to rescue him? Will he continue to be team captain even if he does not play? Would he still own a part of the team?
There are too many questions that do not have a clear and forceful answer from LIV. Too much improvisation, no doubt. The only thing we can tell you in this regard is the information we have at Ten Golf. At that same Tuesday meeting, where it was said that captains could be fired from the league, it was also specified that depending on the case, their continuity could be studied. Free will and vague rules. Too discretionary. Not serious.
Hence the question in the title. Bubba Watson has ended up in the elimination zone of LIV Golf, but will it finally be like this or will he be saved at the last minute by the league? We will find out soon. What Ten Golf has been able to find out is that, of course, he would keep his share in the team ownership, even if he does not play next year. Let’s remember in any case that the largest percentage of ownership in all teams without exception belongs to LIV, so Bubba’s role would be merely symbolic. The Saudis will decide what to do.
Those who are definitely saying goodbye to LIV Golf, unless there is a final surprise move by the league, are Kieran Vincent, from Jon’s team, Hudson Swafford, who has played this year as a free man, Anthony Kim, whose stint at LIV has been more pitiful than glorious, Branden Grace, Scott Vincent and Kalle Samooja, who fought until the last hole to get into the top 48, but finally missed out with a bogey on his last hole after missing the start. That bogey has temporarily saved Pat Perez, who finished exactly in 48th place. We will now have to see what the future holds for these players. Just like with the captains, salvation could come for some by LIV’s whim. It could be the case with Grace, a past winner in the league and a golfer highly valued among players and organisers.
On the other hand, the players who have finished between 25th and 48th place also do not have their future assured. They become free agents and, unless they have a contract, can be eliminated from the league if their current team does not count on them and no other team comes to the rescue. That is, Pat Perez might not be saved. In that situation is, among others, Eugenio López Chacarra. The situation of David Puig does not seem to be the same, whose continuity in Fireballs seems guaranteed. In the same position are golfers like Mito Pereira, although it seems that he will continue in Torque with Joaco Niemann, Matt Jones, Danny Lee, Thomas Pieters, Sam Horsfield, Peter Uihlein or Graeme McDowell. Caleb Surratt is also there, although in principle no one doubts that he will continue in Legion XIII.
