LIV Golf just added a new player via the Promotions event

LIV Golf has added a new member.

The league staged a 36-hole shootout final in its Promotions event on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, crowning a single winner from a qualifying tournament that had started with 92 players. Chieh-po Lee, a 30-year-old Asian Tour pro who often goes by “Max,” was the low man on the day, beating an international crowd that included a mix of former LIV pros, Asian Tour talent and a the well. – Former renowned American PGA Tour professional.

The field had been trimmed to 20 players for Saturday’s next round at Riyadh Golf Club, and Lee shot a seven-under 64 in the morning to take a two-shot lead. He then shot three under on the afternoon, cementing things with a birdie on the par-3 17th to earn his way into LIV for the first time. He will be the first Taiwanese player in LIV.

“It means a lot to me because I’ve played on the Asian Tour for many years, and LIV Golf, I think is every player’s goal, every player’s goal,” Lee said. LIV has maintained a relationship with the Asian Tour, funding associated international series and promoting the winner of that Series to LIV. “In the LIV tournament, I think every player is very strong. I think I can learn something. I will learn something.”

PRO REGISTERED LIV

Lee’s promotion marks the end of the road — for now, at least — for some of LIV’s fallen players. Branden Grace, Kieran Vincent, Scott Vincent, Kalle Samooja and Bubba Watson were cut at the end of Season LIV, but had the opportunity to earn their way through the Promotions event. Grace came the closest, finishing T2 at eight under par. Each of them will have exemptions in the International Series in the Asian Tour for 2025.

A “BUSINESS CASE”?

However, there is still a lifeline for at least two of those professionals. LIV has admitted that, if a team makes a “business case” to keep a dropped player, he can return for next season. Watson, who did not play in the Promotions event, is thought to return as captain of the Range Goats – Masters champions tend to be good for business. But he also mentioned LIV in its release after the Promotions that Grace could also return because of the business matter. Time will tell for the two-time PGA Tour winner who has played in the Stinger GC across South Africa.

OLLIE’s offer

The week also marked a close call for Ollie Schniederjans, an American professional who spent many years as an up-and-coming talent on the PGA Tour. Schniederjans last played on Tour in 2019 – where you’ll remember him as the owner of a fantastic stinger, plus the rare pro who played without a hat – he’s been on and off the Korn Ferry Tour over the past few seasons and has shown that there is still a lot of game playing his way to Saturday and finishing T4 at five under par.

“I’m pretty sure where it’s all going, but to come out and do — I’ve had to hit a lot of nice shots and putts under pressure, so it was pretty cool to see that,” Schniederjans said. “It gave me even more confidence. But I have a lot of faith in my future.”

He will have the opportunity to play in the International Series thanks to his top-10 ranking. Australians Brett Coletta and Jack Buchanan, who tied for fourth at five under, Germany’s Max Rottluff, who finished tied for seventh at four under, and Korea’s Soomin Lee and England’s David Horsey, who finished T-8 at three under will also earn exemptions from the International Series.

It’s unclear which LIV team Lee will land on; It’s been a relatively quiet start to the league’s free agency period.

WHAT NOW ABOUT LIV’S PROMOTIONS?

It is also unclear what the future of the Promotions event will be. It was first contested last season, ostensibly as a way to assuage criticism from the Official World Golf Ranking that LIV was a closed shop. There were three spots available last season but, after LIV abandoned its quest for OWGR points, only one this year. Two of last year’s promoted pros – Kalle Samooja and Kieran Vincent – dropped out at the end of the year, while a third, Jinichiro Kozuma, finished 45th on the Order of Merit. LIV’s rosters are mostly filled out through free agency, so the mix of these promoted pros can complicate team building.

While LIV’s backer, the Saudi PIF, remains in discussions with the PGA Tour, the league prepares for its 2025 season. The inaugural event will return to Riyadh Golf Club on February 6-8.