LIV Golf is set to introduce a transfer window and trade deadline next season, according to a report from Sports Illustrated. The exact setup has yet to be finalised, but apparently, this was a LIV idea from the league’s inception that was scrapped for the time being. More important matters took priority, however, the concept is now back and on track for the 2024 season.
The plan at the moment is that both the player traded and the team itself would have to sign off on the transaction, as well as LIV Golf. When exactly the transfer window will close is still up in the air.
“I mean, it’s no different than any other sport, right? Baseball, football, basketball, guys get traded (though) you obviously build a rapport with your squad,” Peter Uihlein told SI. “But at the end of the day, if your franchise thinks they can do better, then they have to make hard decisions, and it’s just business.”
LIV Golf is following the lead of other team sports, adding in trades, which doesn’t just shake up team-building but can be a constant source of intrigue and entertainment for fans. This also signifies that LIV will continue to focus on the team aspect of the league and attempt to entice fans to root for squads as well as players.
Although trades have not been allowed thus far, there have been workarounds for teams looking to swap players. Free agents were allowed to jump around as Talor Gooch transferred from 4 Aces GC to Range Goats GC and Uihlen ditched Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC to take Gooch’s spot.
Trades would also allow for chemistry-building additions (and subtractions). Perhaps Koepka and Matthew Wolff would be on different squads by now if trades were allowed last season during their fracas.
“I can’t speak for everyone,” Bryson DeChambeau added. “But what I can say is that if it comes time to where someone’s not performing well, and it’s been enough time to try and get given that opportunity to play well and it’s not been done, I will make a decision based on that.”
