Poulter edges Stenson by 0.38 to keep LIV status

Ian Poulter’s LIV Golf status was decided in a narrow, high-drama finish to the 2025 regular season, with the English veteran edging out teammate Henrik Stenson by a slender margin to preserve a place on the Saudibacked circuit for 2026. Poulter finished 48th in the final standings, securing safety by the slimmest of margins, while Stenson ended in the dreaded Drop Zone at 49th. Several other notable names also dropped out of full-time LIV status, leaving their immediate plans for next season unsettled.

The final Indianapolis event produced a dramatic turn of events for the Majesticks GC cohort. Poulter’s closing burst—two late birdies and a medal-winning finish—proved decisive as he overcame a mid-season period of limited form to secure his LIV future. Stenson, who captained the Majesticks during LIV’s early years, could not replicate Poulter’s Sunday late surge and found himself relegated despite starting the round in a position to retain his card. The day also confirmed the continued volatility within LIV’s rank structure, where the line between safety and relegation remains razor-thin.

LIV Golf’s relegation policy determines who returns next season: the top 24 in the...