Team Rosters Set For LIV Golf’s 2023 Season

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Signs for the 12 teams during practice for the LIV Golf Invitational Series Boston on Aug 31, 2022, at The International in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Earlier this week, LIV Golf confirmed the full 12-team, 48-player field set to compete in the 14-tournament 2023 LIV Golf League.

The sophomore campaign tees off February 24-26 at Mayakoba’s El Camaleón Golf Course in Mexico as many of the game’s biggest names compete for the LIV Golf League Individual Championship and Team Championship.

“In less than a year, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport’s future. In 2023, the LIV Golf League comes to life,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner.

“The most popular sports in the world are team sports, and our league format has already begun to build connections with new audiences around the globe. Major champions, current and future Hall of Famers, and up-and-coming stars are all committed to creating this new platform for world-class competition as the sport evolves for the next generation.”

More than a quarter (13) of the league’s field are major champions, with 24 major victories amongst them. The field of 48 represents 16 different nations, includes 18 Olympians, and has made 125 combined appearances in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, with more than half of the league having competed in the biennial team events. In total, LIV Golf League players have amassed 526 worldwide wins across multiple tours, and four players have held the title of World No. 1.

Players who finished in the top 24 of last year’s LIV Golf Invitational Series Individual Standings (minimum four events played) secured spots in the 2023 LIV Golf League. Additionally, winners of the 2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit and the 2022 Asian Tour International Series Order of Merit qualified for a team roster position in 2023. League exemptions and captains’ selections make up the remainder of team rosters for the league’s first full season.

Below are descriptions of the 12 LIV Golf League teams for 2023:

4ACES GC

4 Aces GC Win 2022 LIV Golf Boston
Team Captain Dustin Johnson of 4 Aces GC and teammate Patrick Reed celebrate after winning the team championship during Day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston at The Oaks course at The International on Sep 04, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Patrick Smith for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Team: Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Pat Perez, Peter Uihlein

Dustin Johnson, the two-time major winner and Individual Champion of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, captains 4Aces GC, which also features 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. Winning last year’s Team Championship and four regular-season events, 4Aces dominated the team competition in LIV Golf’s inaugural Invitational Series. Peter Uihlein joins the all-American roster, which now has three of the top four players from last season’s Individual Champion race in Johnson (1), Uihlein (3), and Reed (4). Johnson produced one of last year’s biggest moments by winning the individual title at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston with a dramatic eagle putt on the first playoff hole.


CLEEKS GC

Cleeks GC LIV Golf Martin Kaymer
Team Captain Martin Kaymer of Cleeks GC heads to the driving range during day 1 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on June 30, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Martin Kaymer (C), Graeme McDowell, Richard Bland, Bernd Wiesberger

Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer captains Cleeks GC, which features 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell among its four veteran European players, each from a different country. The experienced group boasts three former Ryder Cup participants (Kaymer, McDowell, and new addition Bernd Wiesberger) while Richard Bland, who turned 50 in early February, is playing some of the best golf of his career.


CRUSHERS GC

2022 LIV Golf Bryson Dechambeau
Team Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC plays a shot on the driving range during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on July 2, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Bryson DeChambeau (C), Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri

Crushers GC is led by 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, widely considered the most powerful hitter in professional golf. The Crushers finished second in last year’s regular season team standings and include former world No. 3 Paul Casey, India’s top-ranked pro Anirban Lahiri and veteran Charles Howell III, who have nearly 60 years of professional experience among them.


FIREBALLS GC

2022 LIV Golf Team Fireballs
Team of Fireballs GC (L-R) Captain Sergio Garcia, Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer and Amateur Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra during the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland Welcome Party at Redd on June 28, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Joe Scarnici for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Sergio Garcia (C), Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Eugenio Chacarra

The Spanish-speaking Fireballs GC is led by 2017 Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia. The Fireballs captured the team title at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok last year, while rookie and former world No. 2 amateur Eugenio Chacarra claimed his first individual trophy in just his fifth pro start. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, who already has one victory this year at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, and former Tokyo Olympics teammate Carlos Ortiz expect to be fan favorites at the league’s debut event, LIV Golf Mayakoba.


HYFLYERS GC

2022 LIV Golf Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson, of HY Flyers GC, putts on the 14th green, during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational Series at the Centurion Club, Hertfordshire on June 11, 2022. (Photo by Kieran Cleeves for PA Images via Getty Images)
  • Phil Mickelson (C), Cameron Tringale, James Piot, Brendan Steele

HyFlyers GC is headlined by World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, one of the most decorated golfers of all time. The six-time major winner has amassed 57 career wins, including the 2021 PGA Championship, and continues his pursuit of individual and team championships at age 52 alongside veteran Cameron Tringale, 2021 U.S. Amateur champion James Piot and LIV Golf newcomer and 10-time professional champion Brendan Steele.


IRON HEADS GC

Iron Heads GC LIV Golf Kevin Na
Team Captain Kevin Na of Iron Heads GC walks from the 17th tee during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GClub on July 02, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jamie Squire/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Kevin Na (C), Sihwan Kim, Scott Vincent, Danny Lee

Iron Heads GC is captained by veteran Kevin Na, who led the Iron Heads throughout 2022. The squad is bolstered by Scott Vincent, who secured his spot for 2023 as the top performer in the International Series – 10 premier global tournaments on the Asian Tour that deliver pathways into the LIV Golf League. Sihwan Kim, who competed for the Iron Heads in the final seven LIV Golf events last year, also earned his spot for 2023 as winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and as one of the top 24 (24th place) in the final LIV Golf individual standings. The team is rounded out by veteran New Zealander Danny Lee, a three-time winner who is making his LIV Golf debut.


MAJESTICKS GC

2022 LIV Golf-Boston Team Majesticks GC
Team Captain Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter of Majesticks GC are seen in the locker room during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National on July 31, 2022 in Bedminster, NJ. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton for LIV via Getty Images)
  • Ian Poulter (co-C), Henrik Stenson (co-C), Lee Westwood (co-C), Sam Horsfield

Majesticks GC is led by a trio of European captains who have had exceptional careers: former world No. 1 Lee Westwood, Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter and 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson. Their experience in global team competitions includes 23 Ryder Cup appearances among the three of them, and as the most veteran LIV Golf team, they have combined for nearly 1,900 worldwide starts. In Stenson’s first LIV Golf competition, the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster, he joined the Majesticks and made an immediate impact by winning the event’s individual title.


RANGEGOATS GC

Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson
Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson on the 13th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 21, 2022 in Avondale, LA. (Photo by Chris Graythen via Getty Images)
  • Bubba Watson (C), Harold Varner III, Talor Gooch, Thomas Pieters

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson captains RangeGoats GC, which debuts an updated team name and roster from last year’s Invitational Series. Watson returns to action after rehabbing from injury and welcomes in Talor Gooch, who played for 4Aces GC and finished just outside the top 10 in last year’s Individual Champion standings. The squad is rounded out by the captivating Harold Varner III and Belgium’s top-ranked pro Thomas Pieters, who makes his first LIV Golf appearance.


RIPPER GC

2022 LIV Golf-Boston Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman
Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman of Punch GC pose for a photo during a press conference prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Boston at The Oaks course at The International on Aug 31, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Cameron Smith (C), Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Jed Morgan

Reigning Open champion and 2022 PGA of America Player of the Year Cameron Smith headlines Ripper GC, a new name for the all-Australian team. Smith’s squad finished strong in last year’s Invitational Series, coming just one shot short of winning the Team Championship. Featuring veterans Marc Leishman and Matt Jones along with youngster Jed Morgan, Ripper GC will be a crowd favorite – especially in April when Adelaide hosts the first-ever LIV Golf event in Australia.


SMASH GC

Brooks Koepka 2022 LIV Golf-Portland
Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC warms up on the putting green during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on July 2, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Brooks Koepka (C), Matthew Wolff, Jason Kokrak, Chase Koepka

Smash GC is captained by four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka, who won the individual title in the 2022 regular-season finale in Jeddah while leading Smash to the team title. Koepka, transfer Matthew Wolff and Jason Kokrak each finished in the top five in driving distance during LIV Golf’s invitational season. The captain’s brother, Chase Koepka, provides steady shot-making for the all-American team.


STINGER GC

Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis
Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis of Stinger GC smile with the trophy after winning the team portion of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips / LIV Golf via Getty Images)
  • Louis Oosthuizen (C), Charl Schwartzel,Branden Grace, Dean Burmester

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen captains the all-South African team, which includes 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel. Stinger comes off a very successful 2022 Invitational Series, having earned LIV Golf’s first-ever team victory at the inaugural event in London. In addition, Schwartzel (London) and Branden Grace (Portland) won the first two individual titles, with the latter finishing second in the season-long Individual Champion race. The 2023 squad now includes Dean Burmester, a nine-time winner on professional tours.


TORQUE GC

2022 LIV Golf Boston Joaquin Niemann
Team Captain Joaquin Niemann of Torque GC plays a shot on the 3rd tee during Day 1 of LIV Golf Invitational Boston on Sept 2, 2022, at The International in Bolton, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
  • Joaquin Niemann (C), Mito Pereira, Sebastian Munoz, David Puig

Twenty-four-year-old sensation Joaquin Niemann captains the all-Latin Torque GC, which adds three new players in fellow Chilean Mito Pereira, Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz and Spanish youngster David Puig. Niemann finished seventh in the Individual Champion standings last year despite making just four regular season starts. Munoz and Pereira, members of the 2022 Presidents Cup International Team, make their LIV Golf debuts and should provide a spark as the league’s youngest squad.


Press release from LIV Golf was used to produce this post.


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