After the 2024 LIV Golfers Individual Championship, Bubba Watson stood at 53rd in the breakaway league’s standings. As per the rules, players who drop below 48 are in the drop zone, meaning they will no longer be allowed to play in the next LIV Golf season. The RangeGoats captain was among the nine players in this zone.

Last year, any player who was a team captain had an exemption for the upcoming year, even if they dropped into the drop zone. This exemption saved Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood in 2023 due to their skipper roles for the Cleeks and Majesticks. However, this year, that exemption is no longer in place. Nonetheless, there is a possibility of another loophole to save the captain.

Bubba Watson to use business reason clause

Bubba Watson tied for 42nd at LIV Golf Chicago and was relegated from the next season. However, he will not meet the same fate as the other relegated players. He can be brought back in 2025 by submitting a business case to his RangeGoats team, which will allow him to return. This business case submission is not available to everyone—only LIV team captains can use this option, leaving the eight other players unable to do so.

“He’s had a bad run of 11 tournaments or so and we consider this a slump and not a downturn. We’ve already had realistic discussions about this and his teammates have confidence that he will return to form. Our goal is to be a competitive team,” said Randall Wells, who serves as the general manager of Watson’s team. Watson agreed that it has been a tough year for him.

However, he is confident that his teammates want him back for the next season, and he would like to play in the breakaway league once again. “I know some discussions need to take place and there are some business considerations. We have one of the most popular teams. Am I part of that? I think I am and I’m committed to playing better,” added the 2X Major winner.

Watson had a tough run last year as well, and he told his team that they could replace him if they thought he didn’t play well. Last August, he also said he would help bring in a good golfer to take his position. This time, he once again stated that he would continue playing as long as they didn’t kick him out.

Bubba Watson’s 2024 run

Bubba Watson has failed to secure a single win on the 2024 schedule. He kickstarted his run at Mayakoba, finishing in 11th place and grabbing only one point. Out of his twelve appearances, he has managed a top-five finish in only four events. His best result was a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Miami.

The RangeGoats captain has accumulated only 3.66 points this year, a staggering 231.51 points behind Jon Rahm, who leads the standings. With such a performance, do you think he will be able to return to the league in 2025? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!