LIV Golf has returned for 2026 with a multitude of changes finally in operation on the PIF-backed circuit.
Not only did we seen 72 holes for the first time at Riyadh Golf Club, but a handful of fresh faces have been competing in the team competition for the first time as well.
There is also the new dynamic of Official World Golf Ranking points on offer for anyone who ends the four-day event inside the top-10.
And then there's the money. LIV announced an increase in the weekly prize pot, which includes payouts to individual players and teams, from $25 million to $30 million.
Additionally, LIV has introduced a new mini pot of $2.3 million to be allocated to players on the top-three teams at each tournament.
In theory, the prizes of $1 million, $800,000 and $500,000 could be given to the leading player on the corresponding team's roster, but LIV noted that “captains can allocate to their team players as they wish.”
At the event, Elvis Smylie held off Jon Rahm to mark his LIV Golf debut with victory, which his new team, Ripper GC, won the team tournament.
While we may never know how much of the $1 million bonus money Smylie will bank for his part in Ripper GC's success, we do know how much he earns for his individual title.
The winners of regular tournaments earn the same sum as previous seasons, with Smylie picking up a check for $4m - enough to almost quadruple his entire earnings on the DP World Tour from his 42 starts in one fell swoop.
For Rahm's near-miss, he earns $2.25 million, while Peter Uihlein banks $1.5 million for his finish of third.
As a no-cut, limited field event, all 57 players in the field receive some payment, with $50,000 going to the last four players on the leadboard in Riyadh.
Another new addition from LIV for 2026 is the introduction of prize money for every team each week.
As well as the bonus money shared between the players of the top three teams, each of the 13 teams also secures some prize money in each event of the season.
As a result of its victory, Ripper GC is now $3 million richer, with runner-up Torque GC earning $1.5 million. The team that finished last in Riyadh, Phil Mickelson's Hy Flyers GC, earns $200,000.
Below is the complete prize money breakdown for LIV Golf Riyadh 2026.
LIV GOLF RIYADH INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN
Position |
Player |
Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
1st |
Elvis Smylie |
$4,000,000 |
2nd |
Jon Rahm |
$2,250,000 |
3rd |
Peter Uihlein |
$1,500,000 |
T4 |
Abraham Ancer |
$800,000 |
T4 |
Thomas Pieters |
$800,000 |
T4 |
David Puig |
$800,000 |
7th |
Thomas Detry |
$600,000 |
8th |
Sebastian Munoz |
$525,000 |
T9 |
Lucas Herbert |
$405,000 |
T9 |
Branden Grace |
$405,000 |
T9 |
Byeong Hun An |
$405,000 |
12th |
Talor Gooch |
$360,000 |
T13 |
Carlos Ortiz |
$311,250 |
T13 |
Richard T. Lee |
$311,250 |
T13 |
Scott Vincent |
$311,250 |
T13 |
Cameron Smith |
$311,250 |
T17 |
Tom McKibbin |
$250,000 |
T17 |
Paul Casey |
$250,000 |
T17 |
Bryson DeChambeau |
$250,000 |
T17 |
Dustin Johnson |
$250,000 |
T17 |
Yosuke Asaju |
$250,000 |
T22 |
Bjorn Hellgren |
$200,000 |
T22 |
Marc Leishman |
$200,000 |
T22 |
Jason Kokrak |
$200,000 |
T22 |
Anthony Kim |
$200,000 |
T22 |
Joaquin Niemann |
$200,000 |
T27 |
Josele Ballester |
$180,000 |
T27 |
Graeme McDowell |
$180,000 |
T27 |
Adrian Meronk |
$180,000 |
T30 |
Younghan Song |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Charl Schwartzel |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Anirban Lahiri |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Sergio Garcia |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Louis Oosthuizen |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Harold Varner III |
$160,000 |
T30 |
Ben Campbell |
$160,000 |
T37 |
Laurie Canter |
$140,000 |
T37 |
Luis Masaveu |
$140,000 |
T39 |
Charles Howell III |
$136,500 |
T39 |
Caleb Surratt |
$136,500 |
T41 |
Cameron Tringale |
$128,167 |
T41 |
Minkyu Kim |
$128,167 |
T41 |
Michael La Sasso |
$128,167 |
T41 |
Ben Schmidt |
$128,167 |
T41 |
Ian Poulter |
$128,167 |
T41 |
Danny Lee |
$128,167 |
47th |
Tyrrell Hatton |
$123,000 |
T48 |
Bubba Watson |
$60,000 |
T48 |
Miguel Tabuena |
$60,000 |
T48 |
Sam Horsfield |
$60,000 |
T51 |
Matthew Wolff |
$53,333 |
T51 |
Martin Kaymer |
$53,333 |
T51 |
Dean Burmester |
$53,333 |
54th |
Victor Perez |
$50,000 |
55th |
Richard Bland |
$50,000 |
56th |
Ollie Schniejderjans |
$50,000 |
57th |
Brendan Steele |
$50,000 |
LIV GOLF RIYADH TEAM PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN
Position |
Team |
Prize Money Payout (Per Team) |
|---|---|---|
1st |
Ripper GC |
$3,000,000 |
2nd |
Torque GC |
$1,500,000 |
3rd |
4Aces GC |
$900,000 |
T4 |
Fireballs GC |
$675,000 |
T4 |
Legion XIII |
$675,000 |
6th |
Smash GC |
$600,000 |
7th |
Crushers GC |
$550,000 |
T8 |
Southern Guards GC |
$475,000 |
T8 |
Korean Golf Club |
$475,000 |
10th |
Range Goats GC |
$400,000 |
11th |
Majesticks GC |
$300,000 |
12th |
Cleeks Golf Club |
$250,000 |
13th |
Hy Flyers GC |
$200,000 |
LIV GOLF RIYADH TEAM PRIZE BONUS FOR INDIVIDUAL PLAYER
Team Finish |
Team |
Individual Bonus Payout |
|---|---|---|
1st |
Ripper GC |
$1,000,000 |
2nd |
Torque GC |
$800,000 |
3rd |
4Aces GC |
$500,000 |
