Ranking the Top 10 PGA Players That Joined LIV Golf

Ranking the Top 10 PGA Players That Joined LIV Golf

The golf world is in disarray as the LIV Golf Invitational wedges their way into the fold amongst the traditional powerhouses of the sport. In an effort to stop their superstars from leaving, the PGA Tour went as far as suspending 17 of their former golfers indefinitely. It was a move to lay down the hammer and dissuade any additional PGA members from leaving the tour. 

However, the damage was done as LIV Golf now boasts a roster carrying 22 of the world’s top 100 golfers. As the second event of the Invitational’s history gets underway next week, I decided to rank the top 10 of the aforementioned 22 players below based strictly on current form, recent results, and their finish in the inaugural LIV event. 

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LIV Golfers Ranking

10. Phil Mickelson (World Rank: 83)

What better name to get started with and round out the top 10 players on the LIV Golf tour. Phil was amongst the first players to sign with the Saudi-backed league and he cashed in in a big way. Lefty reportedly received around $200 million to join the tour, and if that’s correct, he’s moved through the $1 billion threshold in career golf earnings. 

Phil’s play hasn't been great this year as he missed the cut in his last three PGA tournaments, including the U.S. Open last week. He shot a 151 (+11) through the Thursday and Friday rounds. He participated in the LIV Golf’s first event in London and finished 34th at +10. 

9. Bryson DeChambeau (WR: 30)

I’m slightly bending my grading criteria here as I’m including Bryson DeChambeau at ninth overall. Aside from being a notable name, the 28-year-old has struggled mightily this year. He finished T56 at the U.S. Open (+13) and missed the cut at the Masters prior to that. Perhaps Bryson is making this move to LIV Golf solely for the cash as he’s netted roughly just $140,000 this year on the PGA Tour. He did not participate in the first LIV event earlier this month.

8. Sergio Garcia (WR: 59)

Garcia missed the cut at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship this year; but, the Spanish native finished T23 at the Masters back in April. He hasn’t been overwhelmingly great this year, but he’s cashed in seven out of his last 10 PGA tournaments. The 42-year-old finished +6 in London earlier this month and that was good enough for 24th overall. 

7. Brooks Koepka (WR: 19)

It’s been an up-and-down season for Koepka, essentially alternating missed cuts and top 20 finishes throughout the calendar year. However, he’s been trending downwards recently as he missed the cut at Augusta and finished 55th in both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Koepka was the most-recent big name to make his emigration from the PGA official, announcing it on June 22nd. He’s set to make his LIV debut next weekend, where he’ll join his younger brother, Chase (WR: 1,607). 

6. Patrick Reed (WR: 38)

The American is coming off of a T49 finish at The Country Club last weekend. He shot a +10, which netted him $44,038 over four days worth of work. Reed is one of several big names to make his LIV debut in Portland at the end of June. 

5. Talor Gooch (WR: 39)

Gooch is putting together a very nice season with his best finish coming at the RSM Classic back in November, where he won the tournament outright. The American finished T14 at the Masters, T20 at the PGA Championship, and missed the cut at the U.S. Open. Gooch finished ninth (E) at the inaugural LIV event in early June. 

4. Kevin Na (WR: 34) #36

The 38-year-old finished in the top 25 of both the Masters (T14) and the PGA Championship (T23), but he missed the cut at the U.S. Open last weekend. Prior to the Open, Na finished T7 at the Charles Schwab and netted his highest payday of the year, worth $246,540. Na played in London earlier this month and finished 36th with a score of +10.

3. Louis Oosthuizen (WR: 23)

The South African struggled this year on the PGA tour with his best finish being T14 at the WM Phoenix Open back in February. Perhaps he’ll have better luck abroad as he finished 12th earlier this month in his first LIV Golf event. 

2. Abraham Ancer (WR: 20)

Ancer is set to make his LIV debut next weekend in Portland. He comes in as the 20th-ranked golfer in the world and his best finish as of late was T9 at the PGA Championship in Oklahoma. He shot a -1 at Southern Hills, an effort that netted him $357,813 from the PGA.

1. Dustin Johnson (WR: 16)

DJ was one of the first golfers to jump ship alongside Phil Mickelson and take his talents to Saudi Arabia. The 38-year-old American was rumored to collect around $125 million for making the transfer to the LIV Golf Invitational. Johnson’s in great form, finishing 24th at the U.S. Open last weekend and eighth in the inaugural LIV event. 

Honorable Mention: Charl Schwartzel (WR: 123)

The 37-year-old South African hasn’t been playing great golf this year. Aside from a T10 at the Masters and eighth at the Byron Nelson, he’s been atrocious. He’s missed eight cuts and hasn’t finished higher than 30th over 13 other PGA events. However, Schwartzel gets an honorable mention as he won the inaugural LIV Golf event in London earlier this month. He shot a -7 through the three rounds and finished directly above two of his teammates (Hennie Du Plessis, Branden Grace).