LIV Golf are constantly trying to innovate it seems and a brand new rule change has been very much welcomed by both Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm.
One of the big features of LIV is the team element of the tournaments. Scores have previously only counted for some of the team but for 2025, all will be taken into account.
The top three individual scores in the opening two rounds will count but then, in round three, all four players will see their scores contribute to the total in what is a significant change.
And when pressed on those changes, both Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were more than happy.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton react to LIV Golf’s new team rules
Rahm and Hatton were speaking to the media ahead of the LIV Golf season teeing off and were both asked about the introduction of the new ruling.
And according to Rahm and Hatton, it can only be a good thing for their own team.
“I like it. I like it. I think it benefits a team like ours. I think we have four really strong players that are really consistent,” Rahm commented.
“So I think it’s better for the league in general for everybody to matter every single day because Sunday is usually really, really fun. At least last year it was incredibly fun in that regard.
But I think it’s better for the teams and the players’ development, as well, for every round to count. I’m very much in favour of it.”
Adding his own take on the change, Tyrrell Hatton then suggested the move would benefit Legion XIII.
“Yeah, I think we saw last year even on Sunday how quickly the leader boards can change. Having that from round 1 certainly brings a little bit more interest there earlier in the week. But yeah, like Jon said, I think we’re a pretty consistent team, and hopefully this move kind of benefits us over the course of the year,” Hatton added.
| Player | Earnings |
| 1. Jon Rahm | $390m |
| 2. Phil Mickelson | $205m |
| 3. Dustin Johnson | $186m |
| 4. Brooks Koepka | $120m |
| 5. Cam Smith | $110m |
| 6. Bryson DeChambeau | $107m |
| 7. Sergio Garcia | $105m |
| 8. Patrick Reed | $90m |
| 9. Bubba Watson | $88m |
| 10. Tyrrell Hatton | $86m |
What Joaquin Niemann has said about LIV’s new rule
Like with any new rule in golf, it’s always going to be a discussion point for the top players and one of those top players to be quizzed on the team rule change was Joaquin Niemann.
2024 was a big year for Niemann and going into 2025, he’s among the favourites for the individual title.
However, he feels the new team ruling change will add further pressure and in turn, help the competition.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to bring a lot more pressure into every team,” Niemann said. “I feel like having every guy on their best form and having every shot count is going to bring the best version of every player. I think it’s going to be great. The competition level is going to get higher.
“I think anything could happen. Even on Saturdays and Sundays you can have four really good rounds and take advantage from it. I like the way it is set up now. I think it’s going to be better for the consistency of teams, during the year especially. Yeah, I like how it is.”
With LIV only played over three rounds, it will be interesting to see who comes up short in the final round and ultimately ends up costing their teams.
In theory, this makes the team element that bit more exciting, which is what LIV need to do to get fans onboard.
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