LIV Golf

LIV Golf begins its second season on Friday. The league boasts reimagined teams and a new broadcast partner, but still faces some familiar issues.

Other LIV Golf players, including [Harold Varner III](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/6991/harold-varner-iii), [Jason Kokrak](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/3317/jason-kokrak) and [Kevin Na](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/318/kevin-na), are eligible by finishing in the top 50 in the world last year. [Henrik Stenson](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/576/henrik-stenson) and [Louis Oosthuizen](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/1293/louis-oosthuizen) are eligible to play in The Open until they're 60, and [Martin Kaymer](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/3670/martin-kaymer) has exemptions into the PGA Championship and U.S. "Our decisions are always based on what's in the best interest of the PGA of America and conducting the best championship possible," Waugh said in a news release on Wednesday. If you're a major championship and you're using it as a qualifying factor and you're taking a system that is not getting all the best players in the field, it hurts the tournament more. In the past, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh had indicated that players who had been suspended and weren't in good standing with the PGA Tour wouldn't be allowed to play. [Dustin Johnson](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/3448/dustin-johnson), [Bryson DeChambeau](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/10046/bryson-dechambeau), [Patrick Reed](https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/5579/patrick-reed) and others pledged their support to the PGA Tour. The OWGR notified LIV Golf that it will have to address a few issues before it can be included in the rankings, which the four major championships and other tournaments use to determine exemptions and qualifying. Sources told ESPN that it is a revenue-sharing arrangement and that LIV Golf won't receive rights fees from the CW network and would continue to pay production costs, as it did during its inaugural season in 2022. McIlroy and Woods have been two of the PGA Tour's most vocal supporters and have helped reshape it in response to the LIV Golf threat. 35 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was the highest-profile player signed by LIV Golf during the offseason. The investors won that fight; the LIV Golf team championship will be played in Jeddah on Nov. As Johnson and his 4Aces teammates celebrated with a champagne shower on the 18th hole of Trump Doral in Miami, after winning LIV Golf's $50 million team championship in October, LIV Golf seemed to have momentum.

Any second series of Netflix's 'Full Swing' series may focus more heavily on the stars of the PGA Tour—and some of the LIV Golf rebels at risk of being ...

Johnson and Koepka are among the more prominent figures in the first season of Full Swing, while Englishman [Ian Poulter](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ian-poulter) also [features heavily](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/poulter-liv-netflix-full-swing-29204921). 1 went back on that decision after becoming one of the most outspoken figures against the LIV exodus. The “But it looks like it’ll just be Tour players getting the airtime now. And you’d have to ask yourself why this is? That's allegedly got some in the LIV Golf League concerned they won't be involved in any coverage if a second season does get approved. “You’d think the Tour would want to back its product and make hay from the high profile the sport currently has. However, the [The Masters](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-masters) [confirmed late last year](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/liv-golf-2023-masters-news-28781856) that those on the breakaway's books would be permitted, while [The Open](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-open-championship) will also [accommodate any rebels](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/open-championship-liv-cameron-smith-29279750) who qualify to play. [Phil Mickelson](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/phil-mickelson) was the flagship name who spearheaded the LIV insurgence, followed by major players like [Dustin Johnson](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/dustin-johnson), [Brooks Koepka](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/brooks-koepka) and [Sergio Garcia](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sergio-garcia). [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-11790535/Full-Swing-popular-hit-Netflix-opening-week-LIV-Golfers-feel-ignored.html) has reported the [PGA Tour](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/pga-tour-1) 'issued an ultimatum' to Netflix bosses in an attempt to strong-arm the streaming giant into ignoring LIV's defectors. [Golf](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/)'s turf war is set to go digital after it emerged [LIV](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liv-golf)'s rebel players may not feature in any second season of [Netflix](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/netflix)'s 'Full Swing' series.

European stalwart Ian Poulter revealed he over-ate due to the constant abuse he received following his switch to Saudi-backed breakaway series LIV Golf.

"In those eight weeks [of the Ryder Cups in which I have played] I have given everything I’ve got. The 12-time DP World Tour champion is of course best known for his efforts competing in the blue and gold of Team Europe in the Ryder Cup. I would never admit that I was stress-eating, but who knows the way the mind works. Delving further into the abuse, Poulter added: "People might have their objections. And ahead of his opening three-under-par 68 and LIV Mayakoba, Poulter opened up on how he dealt with the abuse coming his way. I’ve impressed myself with how strict I’ve been, especially when the kids are opening a bar of Cadbury.

Jason Kokrak and Paul Casey share the lead after shooting matching 65s in Friday's first round at El Cameleón Course on Mexico's Riviera Maya.

Talor Gooch made a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole to tie Peter Uihlein for the lead in a LIV Golf season debut on Saturday at Playa Del Carmen, ...

[Paul Casey](http://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/72/paul-casey) was in the mix until three bogeys over his last four holes gave him a 71 and left him 3 shots behind along with [Branden Grace](http://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/4383/branden-grace) (68). The third and final round is Sunday. The greens got a little crusty," Uihlein said. [Charles Howell III](http://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/208/charles-howell-iii), who played for the Cowboys more than a decade earlier. You just never get comfortable around it," Howell said. Gooch played bogey-free, ending his round with an approach to short range on the par-4 first hole.

The Seven Network will be Australia's inaugural free-to-air home of the Greg Norman-led LIV Golf League. 7Sport announced it had secured the rights to the ...

[As first reported by Deadline](https://deadline.com/2023/02/liv-cw-nexstar-mexico-tourney-ad-buys-stations-expectations-1235268778/), all 14 of LIV’s 2023 events will appear in 100 percent of the CW markets, but the network and LIV have had to look beyond some CW affiliates in several big cities because those stations are owned by CBS, which is a broadcast partner with the PGA Tour. Yet that deal has proved far more complicated. The Seven Network will be Australia’s inaugural free-to-air home of the Greg Norman-led LIV Golf League.

Three former Oklahoma State golfers are on top of the leaderboard at Mayakoba, but two are tied for the lead with 18 to play.

Talor Gooch and Peter Uihlein are tied for the lead after the second round, sitting at 9-under 133. Fellow former Cowboy Charles Howell III is third at 8 under. Uihlein replaced Gooch on the 4Aces this season, with the latter going to play for the RangeGoats, and now they’ll be in the final group come Sunday.

Paul Casey birdied his last three holes for a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead with...

35 in the world. The PGA Tour suspended those players, leading to a lawsuit. He was part of the group at 68.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – Talor Gooch played for the champion 4Aces GC last season but left to join the RangeGoats. Peter Uihlein, who finished 2022 ...

“I think any of the guys that have played here before maybe have a slight bit of an advantage. The team with the lowest cumulative score after Sunday’s final round wins the team title. At 8 under through two rounds, he’ll start just one stroke off the lead and in the final group with co-leaders Peter Uihlein and Talor Gooch. It’s nice to have a return venue, so when you’re practicing and playing, you have an idea of what’s going on. In fact, no one else in the 48-man field has competed at Mayakoba as many times as Howell. Of course, neither of the leaders can match Howell’s experience at Mayakoba. A year ago, Uihlein finished third in the Individual Champion race, with Johnson capturing the title. The first one ends Sunday at Mayakoba. I have a lot of respect for him.” Meanwhile, Uihlein’s 4Aces and Gooch’s RangeGoats will both play chaser in the team competition. Uihlein felt like he was joining the Yankees when he got the nod from 4Aces Captain Dustin Johnson, whose team won four regular-season events and the Team Championship last year. Peter Uihlein, who finished 2022 playing for Smash GC, was brought in to fill Gooch’s roster spot for the 2023 LIV Golf League.

A LIV Golf rules dispute? A cliff shot? A PGA Tour pro reveal? Cam Smith's shot on Friday at Mayakoba had it all.

And we’re going to have to place the ball that’s at rest where it hit — very good chance it’s either going to be here (he pointed at the middle of the rocks) or up there.” Official: “Possible, or it could be — (he pointed at the bush) or it could be either way. Official: “Well, what’s going to happen is, is it’s going to roll outside the two club lengths, so we’re going to have to place it where it hit the ground. He was hoping he could get two club-lengths laterally and then just drop into play off the side of the rock.” [David Feherty](https://golf.com/news/david-feherty-liv-criticism-lot-of-money/) said on the broadcast — and he was going to take an unplayable. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. In short, the official told Smith that his lateral relief was two club lengths, and that included going downward. Below is a part of the conversation (and another screen grab). Theoretically, Smith could have placed his ball in the middle of the cliff, but eventually he opted for back-on-the-line and dropped behind the bush. You could make a case for all of the above, and then there’s the fact that the moments came back to back to back to back at Mayakoba. Let’s start from the top, and Smith went right off the tee, and his ball disappeared atop the cliff about 25 yards right of the fairway. Smith and his caddie scaled it, they found his ball stuck in a bush, and Smith’s caddie climbed back down.

The CW will televise LIV Golf events this year, but having tournaments broadcast in some large markets has come with challenges.

Meanwhile, when The CW airs LIV events in 2023, only the events played in North America will be shown live on the linear broadcast in the 1-6 p.m. The five LIV events being played overseas (Australia, Singapore, Spain, England and Saudi Arabia) will be shown on tape delay in that same time window, with live broadcasts only available on The CW or LIV apps. (The first rounds of the 54-hole events will only be available on The CW and LIV Golf apps.) Some of the affected larger city markets include Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa and Hartford-New Haven, Conn. In some of the cities, the alternative station is owned by Nexstar, which bought 75 percent of The CW last year from Paramount and Warner Bros. television deal with The CW Network](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-tv-deal-2023). Other local stations in those markets will air the tournaments instead, allowing the tout of being in 100 percent of markets to technically be accurate.

LIV Golf today announced the launch of LIV Golf Plus and LIVGolfPlus.com, the league's new app and global streaming site enabling fans across the world ...

“In keeping with the content distribution strategy of other major sports leagues, the LIV Golf Plus streaming app allows more access to our content from more places for more people, spanning the traditional golf consumer to the casual sports and entertainment viewer discovering golf for the first time. “The introduction of the LIV Golf Plus streaming app ensures fans around the world will receive direct access to live and on-demand coverage of our league’s groundbreaking launch,” says Will Staeger, LIV Golf Chief Media Officer. Viewers in more than 180 global territories will have the ability to tune in to LIV Golf tournaments beginning February 24-26 with LIV Golf Mayakoba, the debut event in the league’s first official season.

Andy Ogletree took a chance to join LIV Golf last year and only played one event. But he says the move still helped create playing opportunities, ...

Mayakoba, home of the El Camaleón Golf Course, is a 620-acre luxury resort nestled amid lagoons, jungle, and the stunning oceanfront of Mexico's Riviera Maya, ...

GigNet is a leader in the Digital Transformation of the region. Helping to make this event available to viewers around the world through secure, high-speed Internet for broadcasters and media is a major benefit for the Riviera Maya region as we have some of the world’s best natural settings and climate for golf. GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S. Mark Carney, OBE and President of GigNet Mexico, stated, “We are pleased to be asked to participate in making the LIV Tournament a success, including providing advanced connectivity to support the communications logistics of such a large and important event. Golf legend Greg Norman is the first and founding CEO of LIV Golf. LIV Golf is a new professional golf tour founded with the purpose to holistically supercharge and modernize professional golf on a global scale.

LIV Golf begins its second season today in Mexico and the league is still trying to balance expectations.

[Bubba Watson]will be “among seven players making their LIV debuts” today at El Camaleon golf course in Mexico. 35, is the league's “highest acquisition.” Meanwhile the [PGA Tour]has got off to a “flying start to 2023 with dramatic tournaments” at the WM Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational, though LIV can “comfortably compare to more routine tour events” such as this week's [Honda]Classic. The idea that LIV Golf is for “has-beens and the hapless is long gone” as it begins its second season on Friday in Mexico, according to Rick Broadbent of the LONDON TIMES.

LIV Golf returns for its second season as the action gets underway at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico. The rebel tour caused a stir last ...

'Full Swing' has been a success on Netflix in its opening seven days on the streaming service, but LIV golfers have vented their frustration at being ...

[the conflict between PGA Tour and LIV golf players ](/sport/golf/article-11721019/Netflixs-Swing-stars-Rory-McIlroy-fails-capitalize-LIV-Golf-plotline-teed-up.html)who quit the main competition to break away, which sparked chaos in the golfing world. LIV Golf stars fear they are being cut out of future plans for Netflix's 'Full Swing' documentary amid claims that the streaming giants were issued with an ultimatum to snub Saudi's rebel tour by PGA Tour chiefs. LIV golfers fear they are being CUT OUT of Netflix's 'Full Swing' doc ahead of a potential second series...

The world's most controversial golf league is back. After shaking up the sport with its inaugural 2022 season, LIV Golf returns this weekend as the 2023 ...

12:56 p.m. — Final preparations are underway ahead of the 1:15 p.m. Play will begin at 1:15 p.m. — A birdie putt for Ancer lips out on the second hole and he remains at -1. — Ancer narrowly misses a par putt on the third hole to fall back to even par, then Smith does the same to fall to +1. He chips from inside a sandy hazard area to within a couple feet of the hole and rolls in the birdie putt. — Dustin Johnson rolls in another birdie to move to -3, but Casey makes a birdie putt of his own to take the solo lead at -4. — Birdies for Mickelson and DeChambeau move them back within a shot of the lead at -3. — Reed made a double bogey followed by a bogey, and he's now dropped all the way back to even par and off the top of the leaderboard. Casey had to scramble for his par on the 18th hole, but he got it to stay at the top of the leaderboard. — Mickelson hits an uncharacteristically poor pitch shot on the 16th hole, and he'll face a lengthy par putt to stay at -3. — Casey sinks his final putt of the day and will head into the second round tied with Kokrak for the lead at 6 under.

The overall individual purse at El Camaleon Golf Club in Mexico is $20 million with the winner earning $4 million. The teams prize money is $5 million ...

The overall purse for the individual competition at El Camaleon Golf Club is $20 million, with everybody guaranteed to take home at least a six-figure check. ET—and [a new/first global partner](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-first-sponsor-easypost-2023) in EasyPost. [A new TV deal](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-tv-deal-2023)—you can find weekend action in the U.S.

Jason Kokrak appeared poised to cruise into Saturday with the lead. But Paul Casey wasn't about to let him run away with it. At a blustery El Camaleon Golf ...

12:56 p.m. — Final preparations are underway ahead of the 1:15 p.m. Play will begin at 1:15 p.m. — A birdie putt for Ancer lips out on the second hole and he remains at -1. — Ancer narrowly misses a par putt on the third hole to fall back to even par, then Smith does the same to fall to +1. He chips from inside a sandy hazard area to within a couple feet of the hole and rolls in the birdie putt. — Dustin Johnson rolls in another birdie to move to -3, but Casey makes a birdie putt of his own to take the solo lead at -4. — Birdies for Mickelson and DeChambeau move them back within a shot of the lead at -3. — Reed made a double bogey followed by a bogey, and he's now dropped all the way back to even par and off the top of the leaderboard. Casey had to scramble for his par on the 18th hole, but he got it to stay at the top of the leaderboard. — Mickelson hits an uncharacteristically poor pitch shot on the 16th hole, and he'll face a lengthy par putt to stay at -3. — Casey sinks his final putt of the day and will head into the second round tied with Kokrak for the lead at 6 under.

Paul Casey and Jason Kokrak share the lead in Mexico after the opening round of LIV Golf's first tournament of the season.

He was part of the group at 68. The PGA Tour suspended those players, leading to a lawsuit. 35 in the world.

Paul Casey and Jason Kokrak share the lead in Mexico after the opening round of LIV Golf's first tournament of the season.

The Belgian said he only joined when a spot became open because Hudson Swafford is having hip surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season. The PGA Tour suspended those players, leading to a lawsuit. He was part of the group at 68.

Jason Kokrak appeared poised to cruise into Saturday with the lead. But Paul Casey wasn't about to let him run away with it. At a blustery El Camaleon Golf ...

12:56 p.m. — Final preparations are underway ahead of the 1:15 p.m. Play will begin at 1:15 p.m. — A birdie putt for Ancer lips out on the second hole and he remains at -1. — Ancer narrowly misses a par putt on the third hole to fall back to even par, then Smith does the same to fall to +1. He chips from inside a sandy hazard area to within a couple feet of the hole and rolls in the birdie putt. — Dustin Johnson rolls in another birdie to move to -3, but Casey makes a birdie putt of his own to take the solo lead at -4. — Birdies for Mickelson and DeChambeau move them back within a shot of the lead at -3. — Reed made a double bogey followed by a bogey, and he's now dropped all the way back to even par and off the top of the leaderboard. Casey had to scramble for his par on the 18th hole, but he got it to stay at the top of the leaderboard. — Mickelson hits an uncharacteristically poor pitch shot on the 16th hole, and he'll face a lengthy par putt to stay at -3. — Casey sinks his final putt of the day and will head into the second round tied with Kokrak for the lead at 6 under.

MAYAKOBA, Mexico — A three-day training camp Ian Poulter ran for his LIV Golf teammates in Orlando's Lake Nona area, and Dustin Johnson hosting his squad at ...

That's what most teams will [probably] do and it's good for the team spirits.” The practice rounds are really competitive with the four of us.” Most teams play practice rounds as a four-ball and hit balls on the range side-by-side. that will ultimately make clear what is the value, what is the worth. Along with the team’s physiotherapist and mind coach, they flew together to Mexico. Rounds of golf, range sessions, getting fitted for their new team uniforms and collecting tour staff bags were among the activities. What will make their travel arrangements different from last season is that it is now up teams to cover their own travel expenses. For the team Majesticks GC, which is co-captained by the trio of Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, with three-time DP World Tour winner Sam Horsfield the fourth member, the quartet held a bonding and training camp at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club last weekend. Less organized was the preparation of two-time major winner Johnson’s 4 Aces team. It wasn't like a boot camp in that sense; it was more like getting together and bonding.” Similarly, reigning Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, who captains the all-Australian side Ripper GC, had teammates meet at his house in Florida’s Ponte Vedra area on the eve of the new season. The England-based Westwood stayed at his countryman Poulter’s house, while Stenson and Horsfield already live in the Lake Nona area.

LIV Golf returns for its second season as the action gets underway at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico. The rebel tour caused a stir last ...

He drops to -2. It’s his first dropped shot of the day and it moves him back to -3. Follow live scores and updates from the opening event in Mayakoba, below.