LIV Golf players hit with dress code crackdown on eve of new season
LIV Golf players hit with dress code crackdown on eve of new season
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When LIV Golf launched in 2022, it pulled out all the stops to distinguish itself from the PGA Tour, but ahead of the start of the new season on Thursday, it seems one of those changes has been reversed. LIV will tee off its fourth season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday, and its relaxed dress code has been a feature since its launch, with players permitted to play in shorts. That is set to change this year, though, according to former LIV player Pat Perez.
Perez, who was a founding member of the breakaway league, has stepped away from the 4Aces team after a disappointing 2024 season and become part of the broadcast crew as an on-course reporter. Speaking on LIV's Fairway To Heaven podcast, Perez said: "I've heard the players are wearing pants all year." His new colleague on the broadcast crew said he had heard the same rumour. Perez continued: "I got it confirmed the other day that the players are wearing pants and the first place I thought about was Singapore [due to the intense heat and humidity].".
LIV's new campaign begins at Riyadh Golf Club on Thursday, with the season opener being played under the floodlights at night. Jon Rahm hopes to defend his Individual Championship title after finishing top of the pile at the end of a stellar debut season on the breakaway circuit last year. The dress code is not the only change brought in by LIV for the 2025 season, with the league announcing on Wednesday it had made significant changes to the scoring format for its team competition.
Starting in Riyadh, the scores from all four players on each team for all three rounds will count towards the team score total. Previously, only the top three scores were counted from the opening two rounds, and the rule change will mean there is nowhere for hide to players having a rough day on the course. Legion XIII captain Rahm welcomed the change in his pre-tournament press conference. He said: "I like it. I think it benefits a team like ours. I think we have four really strong players that are really consistent.
