Rick Shiels wants big names to join LIV as he suggests top 10 players could be obtainable

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As the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour roar on, LIV Golf continues its build-up towards a new season.

And one major change confirmed for the new LIV Golf season is its switch to 72 holes, which could have an impact on its tussle with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system.

LIV could have OWGR points after its move from 54 holes to 72 from next season, a decision that has been welcomed by many of its players.

Tyrrell Hatton likes LIV’s move to 72 holes, with the Englishman one of the players whose world ranking points have been directly impacted by the league not being recognised by the system.

Rick Shiels wants big names to join LIV Golf in 2026

Rick Shiels has now weighed in on the discussion, reacting to the potential scenario whereby high-ranking players may now be more valuable to LIV Golf in light of their potential recognition.

Discussing the likely low weighting of potential LIV Golf ranking points given how their players have dropped down the standings, he said on The Rick Shiels Golf Show: “I wonder if that puts such a premium price tag on players who are currently world-ranked really high.

“Because let’s say you are now a top 10 player in the world, you’ve become very attractive to LIV Golf. Because if you’re now playing on LIV, you’re boosting that world ranking pot effectively, so for more players to play.”

He was also asked if LIV Golf need a few more signings for 2026, to which he replied: “I would like to see some big-name signings this offseason.

“There were lots of rumors about Min Woo Lee. He has seemed to quash those rumors, quite aggressively quashed those rumors as well.

“I think there does need to be a couple of big-name signings. I think again, the guys who are top 10 in the world have probably got a price potentially, and that is staying pretty high right now because they understand their value, because it unlocks the playing availability for majors and other events.

“If LIV becomes such a strong world ranking pool, which it needs to be, those guys could easily get higher up in the rankings and therefore be playing in many more majors.

“That’s what they want. The LIV guys want to be playing in the majors, certainly the real competitive guys 100% still want to be playing in the majors.”

LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger now a distant memory

Indeed, PGA Tour ace Lee has rejected LIV Golf, but it remains to be seen what many of his fellow members do in the off-season.

Many are enjoying a break after a busy campaign, but a handful may just be considering what their long-term future will look like.

LIV Golf could certainly do with a big-name player or two to join for 2026, while contrastingly the PGA Tour cannot afford such a scenario.

Offering avenues for players to appear in the major championships will definitely work in LIV’s favor, as will the earning of points in the world ranking system.

Australian Lee has, however, proven that LIV won’t have it easy if it does plan to go after PGA Tour talent between now and the start of the new season.

One certainty from the current scenario is simply that the divide between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour won’t be going away anytime soon, with their 2023 merger now a distant memory.