LIV Golf is facing one of its biggest challenges yet following Brooks Koepka’s move to leave before the start of the 2026 season. His decision was enough to catch the attention of critics, with many pointing out that Koepka was willing to pay a hefty fee just to exit his contract a year early.
LIV Golf is facing one of its biggest challenges yet following Brooks Koepka’s move to leave before the start of the 2026 season.
His decision was enough to catch the attention of critics, with many pointing out that Koepka was willing to pay a hefty fee just to exit his contract a year early.
He may not have been in top form during 2025, but losing someone of Koepka’s profile is still a setback for LIV Golf. It has put them in a spot where they need to respond.
It also comes at a time when attention is turning towards the individual title race, an area where LIV will want to show some real progress.
LIV Golf look to Tyrrell Hatton for a stronger 2026 after a disappointing campaign
For the last two seasons, it has been Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann going head-to-head, with Rahm coming out on top both times.
To LIV’s credit, though, both the 2024 and 2025 races were tight contests right up until the end.
But heading into 2026, it feels like something else needs to happen beyond just one more chapter of Rahm vs. Niemann. That is where Tyrrell Hatton could become a key figure for LIV.
Rahm, Niemann, and Bryson DeChambeau must again challenge for the LIV title in the final stages.
And a significant turnaround could be realized if Hatton manages to rebound from his disappointing 2025 LIV season.
The Englishman, on paper, is the most likely candidate to achieve what LIV are yet to see: two teammates competing for the title.
It will not change everything for LIV, but seeing fiery teammates Rahm and Hatton challenge for the title would be fascinating.
The drama of the 2025 Formula 1 season was significantly heightened, as any viewer would recall, by the title fight between the two McLaren drivers.
Press conferences could be quite interesting, and it will be fascinating to observe their dynamic if they consistently achieve both individual and team podium finishes each week.
Tyrrell Hatton reflects on narrow loss to Jon Rahm at 2024 UK event
At the 2024 UK event at JCB, fans were treated to a preview of a potential title race between Rahm and Hatton. The Spaniard ultimately defeated his Legion XIII teammate by a single stroke.
While Legion took home the team crown that day, the Englishman made it clear that the result offered little consolation on a personal level.
“To be honest, no [it does not soften the blow]. Yeah, it’s obviously still pretty raw for me as an individual. It’s kind of hard to put that to one side. Golf is generally an individual sport, and ultimately your individual results will reflect what happens within the team.
“I’m really happy for the guys to have a solid weekend and for us to win our fourth event as a team, but it doesn’t change how I feel towards my own individual performance.
“It sucks to bogey the last in front of your home crowd to effectively miss out on a playoff. That’s unfortunately the reality of my situation at the moment,” he stated.
LIV have been criticised in recent years for lacking genuine storylines or rivalries among its top players. The honesty shown by both Hatton and Rahm offers something different from what fans have become accustomed to seeing in LIV events.
The format does not naturally lend itself to intra-team rivalries, but Rahm and Hatton are perhaps best positioned to break that mould in 2026.
Niemann is not likely to face much internal pressure within Torque, nor is DeChambeau within Crushers.
But if LIV want two teammates genuinely pushing each other for the title, Hatton seems like their best bet to deliver that dynamic next season.
Category: General Sports
