As LIV Golf Promotions Unveils 73-Players Field, What Are the Top 5 Biggest Surprises?

There were promising signs for a few surprises. And, surprises were there when Greg Norman announced their field for the LIV Golf Promotions Tournament. The breakaway league is going to host its first qualifying event this season. The PIF-funded league invited Major winners, top-rated amateurs, and members of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the event. The field shows, that a few of them indeed answered the call.

Ironically, PGAT made it easier for them. Just a month back, one Tour spokesperson, on condition of anonymity, spoke to Sports Illustrated that the Tour won’t ban its players from participating in the qualifier. The Great White Shark said in a statement that, “LIV Golf’s future is bright, and our anticipation grows to see which competitors will be part of this game-changing league in 2024.” Next week marks the beginning of the event, here are five major takeaways.

Five surprises from the LIV Golf Promotions field

Two Former Ryder Cuppers are there

Ryder Cup veteran Jeff Overton of the USA has signed up for the LIV golf qualifying tournament. The 40-year-old golfer raked in two points from his four matches at the Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.

Victor Dubuisson made his lone appearance at the 2014 Ryder Cup at the Gleneagles. The two-time European Tour winner brought in two and a half points staying unbeaten throughout the week. 

A major winner decided to try his luck with the Saudi-backed side

Jason Dufner sniffed his first Major victory at the PGA Championship in 2013. The 46-year-old golfer also has five PGA Tour titles under his belt, the most recent of which came in the Memorial six years ago. In the last season, his best performance was the 19th-placed finish at the Fortinet Championship. In his last outing, at the RSM Classic, the veteran golfer failed to make the cut.

An Ex-Player Advisory Council Member jumps onto the bandwagon

Chris Stroud, a former member of the Player Advisory Council has also signed up for the LIV Golf Promotions event. PGA Tour’s alleged disregard for average players who are out of the top thirty left him frustrated. The one-time PGA Tour winner hopes to find a better alternative in the PIF-funded league.

Top-rated amateurs show interest in the LIV Golf Promotions

While the field is mostly headlined by former PGA Tour and European Tour winners, a few amateurs have raised their heads among the crowd. Former No.1 Amateur, Sampson-Yunhe Zheng, who most recently finished as a runner-up at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship headlines the list that includes Max Kennedy and Ryan Griffin. 

Brooks Koepka’s brother hopes to make a comeback

Chase Koepka, along with Sihwan Kim, Jed Morgan, and James Piot will line up at the LIV Golf Promotions event to earn their spot in the next season. The four players finished in the relegation zone at the LIV Golf leaderboard. Interestingly, Brooks Koepka signed Graeme McDowell into his Smash GC Roster, putting his brother’s future, should he qualify, in a dicey situation.

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The LIV Golf Promotions Tournament is set to tee off on December 8 in Abu Dhabi. 59 players will tee off in the first round, with 20 players advancing to the next round. Again 20 players after tiebreakers, will advance to the final two rounds. Only the top three finishers will get a chance to enter into the LIV Golf fray. 

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