LIV Golf touched down on African soil for the first time this past weekend, with The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg hosting the league’s inaugural South African event. The tournament also marked the return of Phil Mickelson, who made his 2026 debut after missing the first four events of the season due to undisclosed personal reasons.
A New Frontier for LIV Golf
South Africa represents an important expansion for LIV Golf, which has been steadily broadening its global footprint since launching in 2022. The country has a deep golfing heritage, having produced legends like Gary Player, Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen, and the addition of a South African event was widely seen as a natural fit for the league’s international ambitions.
The Club at Steyn City provided a worthy stage for LIV Golf’s African debut. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout offered a challenging test that showcased South Africa’s golfing infrastructure to a global audience. The event attracted strong local interest, with South African fans turning out in significant numbers to watch some of the biggest names in professional golf.
A Changed LIV Golf in 2026
The South Africa event highlighted several significant changes to LIV Golf’s format in 2026. Most notably, events are now played over 72 holes rather than the previous 54-hole format, bringing the league more in line with traditional professional golf tournaments. The field for each event remains at 57 players, maintaining the intimate, fast-paced atmosphere that LIV has cultivated.
The move to 72 holes was a direct response to criticism that the shorter format diminished the competitive integrity of LIV events. The extra round adds strategic depth and increases the likelihood that the best player over the week, rather than the hottest player over three rounds, emerges as the winner.
Mickelson’s Return Draws Attention
While the South African venue was new, it was Phil Mickelson’s return that generated the most buzz. The six-time major champion had been conspicuously absent from the first four LIV Golf events of 2026, with the league citing undisclosed personal reasons for his absence. Mickelson’s return at the South Africa event was welcomed by fans and fellow competitors alike.
At 55, Mickelson remains one of the most recognizable figures in professional golf, and his presence adds star power and media attention to any event he enters. While his competitive results have understandably declined from his peak years, his ability to draw crowds and generate excitement remains undiminished.
Rahm Leads the Season Standings
Entering the South Africa event, Jon Rahm held the LIV Golf season lead following his victory at LIV Golf Hong Kong, which gave the Spaniard his first individual LIV title since joining the league. Rahm’s form has been impressive in 2026, and he continues to be the player most likely to challenge for major championships among the LIV Golf contingent.
Notable Departures Reshape the Field
The 2026 LIV Golf season has also been shaped by significant departures. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed both left the league prior to the season to begin the process of rejoining the PGA Tour. These departures removed two of LIV Golf’s most high-profile players and signaled that the relationship between the rival tours continues to evolve.
For LIV Golf, the departures were offset by the continued commitment of stars like Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith, who remain the league’s competitive backbone. The addition of new venues like South Africa and the move to 72 holes suggest that LIV Golf is focused on building long-term credibility and competitive legitimacy as it enters its fifth season.
