LIV Golf, a professional golf league, recently added a new member after staging a 36-hole shootout finale in Saudi Arabia. Chieh-po Lee, also known as “Max,” emerged as the victor, beating out 92 players in the qualifying tournament. Lee shot a seven-under 64 in the morning round and followed it up with a three-under round in the afternoon, securing his spot on the LIV Tour. This marks a significant milestone for Lee, as he will become the first Taiwanese player on the LIV Tour. The league has a strong relationship with the Asian Tour, funding its International Series and promoting the winner to LIV.
As Lee earned his way onto the tour, it marked the end of the road for some of LIV’s relegated players, including Branden Grace, Kieran Vincent, Scott Vincent, Kalle Samooja, and Bubba Watson. Grace came close to requalifying, finishing T2 at the event. These players will receive exemptions into the International Series on the Asian Tour for the 2025 season. While some players may return via a “business case” presented by their team, the future remains uncertain for these pros on the LIV Tour.
American pro Ollie Schniederjans also had a strong showing at the event, finishing T4 at five under par. Schniederjans, who last played on the PGA Tour in 2019, expressed confidence in his future and will have the option to play in the International Series. Other top finishers, including Australians, Germans, Koreans, and English players, also earned exemptions into the series. The league’s free agency period has been relatively quiet, and it remains to be seen which team Lee will join.
As LIV Golf prepares for its 2025 season, the future of the Promotions event, which offers players a chance to qualify for the tour, is uncertain. The event was introduced last season to address critiques that LIV was a closed shop. With just one spot available this year, the complexity of team construction may increase with the addition of promoted pros. The league’s backer, the Saudi PIF, is in discussions with the PGA Tour as it plans for the upcoming season. The first event of the season is set to take place at Riyadh Golf Club in February.
