Golf Leagues · Tool Face-Off

LIV Golf vs PGA Tour

Quick answer

PGA Tour is the gold standard with deep history and star power, but LIV Golf brings chaos, cash, and a party-league energy that's genuinely shaking up the sport.

LIV Golf

Shotgun starts, no cuts, and enough Saudi money to make your eyes water.

3.2★

Our pick

PGA Tour

84 years of birdies, bogeys, and the most recognizable trophy in sports.

4.6★

Founded

2022

1929

Events per season

14 events

~45+ events

Team format

Yes — 12 teams of 4

No team format

Cut rule

No cuts — everyone finishes

Cut after round 2

Total season prize pool

$405 million+

~$500-600 million+

Individual event purse (top events)

$25 million per event

$20-25 million (flagship events)

Rounds per event

54 holes (3 rounds)

72 holes (4 rounds)

World Ranking points

Yes (restored 2024)

Yes — full points

Major championship eligibility

Complicated / limited pathways

Full automatic pathways

TV/Streaming (US)

YouTube (free) + CW Network

NBC, CBS, Golf Channel, Peacock

Field size per event

48 players

120-156 players

Shotgun start

Yes — all players tee off simultaneously

No — traditional tee times

LIV Golf

Prize Money★★★★★

Field Quality★★★½☆

Fan Experience★★★★☆

Global Prestige★★½☆☆

Tournament Format★★★½☆

TV & Accessibility★★☆☆☆

Player Count & Depth★★☆☆☆

PGA Tour

Prize Money★★★★☆

Field Quality★★★★★

Fan Experience★★★½☆

Global Prestige★★★★★

Tournament Format★★★★½

TV & Accessibility★★★★★

Player Count & Depth★★★★★

Worth knowing

LIV Golf is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has committed billions to reshape professional golf.
The PGA Tour has produced every World No. 1 ranked player for over two decades and counts 24 of the top 30 players in its ranks.
LIV events wrap up in under 5 hours thanks to the shotgun format — great for fans, controversial for purists.
The PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs award a $25 million bonus to the season points champion, rivaling LIV's biggest paydays.
LIV streams entirely free on YouTube in the US, making it the only major golf league with zero paywall.

LIV Golf has a team called 'Crushers GC' — because apparently 'We're Funded by a Sovereign Wealth Fund GC' didn't fit on a shirt.

If you want

You want to watch the best players in the world compete in high-stakes, meaningful golf

PGA Tour still holds the top-ranked players, the Majors pipeline, and decades of prestige that make every leaderboard feel important.

→ Pick PGA Tour

If you want

You want a fast, fun, free-to-watch golf product with a festival atmosphere

LIV's shotgun starts, no-cut format, and free YouTube streaming make it the most accessible and party-friendly golf on TV.

→ Pick LIV Golf

If you want

You're a professional golfer chasing a massive guaranteed payday

LIV's guaranteed contracts and no-cut policy mean you get paid handsomely even on a bad week — PGA Tour offers no such safety net.

→ Pick LIV Golf

If you want

You care about golf history, Major championships, and global legacy

The PGA Tour is the direct path to Augusta, Bethpage, and Pebble Beach — LIV still can't replicate that gravitational pull.

→ Pick PGA Tour

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.