Will LIV Golf be able to maintain the scorching pace it set in 2022 as it dominated headlines and golf payouts?
That remains to be seen, but the opening event of the 2023 LIV Golf Tour could go a long way in determining how this season is remembered. Last season's had the benefit of a close finish to drive views. Will the same be said for this year's opener at El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course?
MORE: LIV Golf Mexico betting guide: Best bets, sleepers, value plays for LIV's first event of 2023
LIV Golf will need to show its level of golf can rival that of the PGA Tour, which has vastly increased its purse sizes and player payouts in response to the money pumped into the former by Saudi investors. LIV in 2022 had a novelty factor that doubtless drew eyes as people checked out the first threat, real or perceived, to the PGA. Part of that included the new team play that will once again return in 2023.
If LIV can build off its 2022 campaign (and continue to draw a couple more defectors from the PGA Tour) then it could be an indicator of serious staying power in the fledgling, controversial league.
MORE: Can LIV golf stars compete in the 2023 Masters at Augusta National?
With that, The Sporting News has the list of players and teams expected to tee off at El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico:
LIV Golf Mexico field 2023
LIV Golf Invitational at Mayakoba will feature 48 golfers, with teams and participants still to be finalized. Here's a list of players confirmed for the event, in alphabetical order:
| Golfer | Country |
|---|---|
| Abraham Ancer | Mexico |
| Richard Bland | England |
| Dean Burmester | South Africa |
| Paul Casey | England |
| Eugenio Chacarra | Spain |
| Bryson DeChambeau | USA |
| Sergio Garcia | Spain |
| Talor Gooch | USA |
| Branden Grace | South Africa |
| Sam Horsfield | England |
| Charles Howell III | USA |
| Dustin Johnson | USA |
| Matt Jones | Australia |
| Martin Kaymer | Germany |
| Sihwan Kim | USA |
| Brooks Koepka | USA |
| Chase Koepka | USA |
| Jason Kokrak | USA |
| Anirban Lahiri | India |
| Danny Lee | New Zealand |
| Marc Leishman | Australia |
| Graeme McDowell | N. Ireland |
| Phil Mickelson | USA |
| Jediah Morgan | Australia |
| Sebastián Muñoz | Colombia |
| Kevin Na | USA |
| Joaquin Niemann | Chile |
| Louis Oosthuizen | South Africa |
| Carlos Ortiz | Mexico |
| Mito Pereira | Chile |
| Pat Perez | USA |
| Thomas Pieters | Belgium |
| Ian Poulter | England |
| David Puig | Spain |
| Patrick Reed | USA |
| Charl Schwartzel | South Africa |
| Cameron Smith | Australia |
| Henrik Stenson | Sweden |
| Peter Uihlein | USA |
| Harold Varner III | USA |
| Scott Vincent | Zimbabwe |
| Bubba Watson | USA |
| Lee Westwood | England |
| Bernd Wiesberger | Austria |
| Matthew Wolff | USA |
LIV Golf Mexico teams
This year the expectation for LIV Golf in 2023 is that players will remain on the same teams throughout the season. That remains to be seen, though for now the 48-man, 12-team roster is set for El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course.
Also of note: There are two name changes this season, with Niblicks GC turning into the RangeGoats GC and Punch GC becoming Ripper GC.
| Team | Captain | Player | Player | Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aces GC | Dustin Johnson | Pat Perez | Patrick Reed | Peter Uihlein |
| Stingers GC | Louis Oosthuizen | Dean Burmester | Branden Grace | Charl Schwartzel |
| Iron Heads GC | Kevin Na | Sihwan Kim | Danny Lee | Scott Vincent |
| Torque GC | Joaquin Niemann | Sebastián Muñoz | Mito Pereira | David Puig |
| Fireballs GC | Sergio Garcia | Abraham Ancer | Eugenio Chacarra | Carlos Ortiz |
| HyFlyers GC | Phil Mickelson | James Piot | Brendan Steele | Cameron Tringale |
| Majesticks GC | Ian Poulter | Sam Horsfield | Henrik Stenson | Lee Westwood |
| Smash GC | Brooks Koepka | Chase Koepka | Jason Kokrak | Matthew Wolff |
| Cleeks GC | Martin Kaymer | Richard Bland | Graeme McDowell | Bernd Wiesberger |
| Ripper GC | Cameron Smith | Matt Jones | Marc Leishman | Jediah Morgan |
| RangeGoats GC | Bubba Watson | Talor Gooch | Thomas Pieters | Harold Varner III |
| Crushers GC | Bryson DeChambeau | Paul Casey | Charles Howell II | Anirban Lahiri |
MORE: Phil Mickelson gives credit to LIV Golf for PGA Tour changes: 'All players should be appreciative'
What is the LIV Mexico purse?
The overall prize money for the 2023 LIV tour is up 63 percent in 2023, to $405 million, as the schedule expands from eight events to 14.
Each LIV Golf event will have a purse of $25 million — $20 million for the individual event and another $5 million for the team event. The individual winner will take home $4 million, while the winning team adds $3 million ($750,000 per player). So the top-rated player on the top-rated team in a given LIV Golf event would make $4.75 million for a single event.
LIV also has 11 international series, with purses worth $5 million apiece.
| Place | Projected payout |
| 1 | $4 million |
| 2 | $2.125 million |
| 3 | $1.5 million |
| 4 | $1.05 million |
| 5 | $975,000 |
| 6 | $800,000 |
| 7 | $675,000 |
| 8 | $625,000 |
| 9 | $580,000 |
| 10 | $560,000 |
| 11 | $540,000 |
| 12 | $450,000 |
| 13 | $360,000 |
| 14 | $270,000 |
| 15 | $250,000 |
| 16 | $240,000 |
| 17 | $232,000 |
| 18 | $226,000 |
| 19 | $220,000 |
| 20 | $200,000 |
| 21 | $180,000 |
| 22 | $172,000 |
| 23 | $170,000 |
| 24 | $168,000 |
| 25 | $166,000 |
| 26 | $164,000 |
| 27 | $162,000 |
| 28 | $160,000 |
| 29 | $158,000 |
| 30 | $156,000 |
| 31 | $154,000 |
| 32 | $152,000 |
| 33 | $150,000 |
| 34 | $148,000 |
| 35 | $146,000 |
| 36 | $144,000 |
| 37 | $142,000 |
| 38 | $140,000 |
| 39 | $138,000 |
| 40 | $136,000 |
| 41 | $134,000 |
| 42 | $132,000 |
| 43 | $130,000 |
| 44 | $128,000 |
| 45 | $126,000 |
| 46 | $124,000 |
| 47 | $122,000 |
| 48 | $120,000 |