Ian Poulter's miraculous run of birdies saves LIV future... and relegates Henrik Stenson

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3 days ago

Ian Poulter produced an incredible four-birdie finish in Indianapolis on Sunday night to save himself from expulsion from LIV Golf – but consign team-mate Henrik Stenson to relegation.
The Saudi-funded breakaway league has been accused of lacking drama and of being devoid of jeopardy for the multi-millionaire stars it has signed since its inception in 2022. But these charges certainly could not be levelled on an astonishing afternoon at Chatham Hills.
Granted, Poulter's most famous comeback will always be the quintet of birdies with which the Englishman closed at the 2012 Ryder Cup to inspire the 'Miracle of Medinah' – when Europe rose from the sporting dead to overhaul Team USA – but in terms of significance Stenson might believe this to be a harrowing rival.
The Swede, a close friend and long-time neighbour of Poulter's in Orlando, seemed secure as the last individual event of the LIV campaign entered its concluding hour. But then, Poulter did what Poulter does when his back is to the wall and with a remarkable stretch ensured that he survived to play at least another season on the circuit with cumulative prize pots of more than £300m.
Certainly a tie for 17th – following a 67 for a 12-under total – has never before seemed so lucrative. In contrast, alongside Poulter as a co-captain of the Majesticks outfit, Stenson's one-over 72 for an 11-under total, will feel absurdly costly.
Stenson, the 2016 Open champion, began the final round in a share for third and looking upwards rather than downwards. But now, he will be desperate for a tour worthy of his stature on which to play.
The traditionalists who despise LIV will no doubt cite karma. Three years ago, Stenson effectively gave up the Ryder Cup captaincy to jump ship with what was reported to be a £30m-plus joining fee. Sympathy might be in short supply as Stenson has since earned a further £11m. However, where he goes next is a big question. As it would have been for Poulter.
Those who finished outside the top 48 in the points standings lost their cards. This was a departure from last year, where Bubba Watson, despite finishing 53rd was allowed to return for this year after making 'a business case' to be retained on the Range Goats, the team of which he is skipper. Branden Grace was also given a stay of execution.
That scenario was widely criticised and held up as one of the reasons why the league should not be awarded official status with the Official World Golf Rankings. Yet since Scott O'Neil arrived in January to replace Greg Norman as chief executive, LIV has resubmitted its application to join OGWR and so give its golfers greater access to the majors at the same time as affording the four-year-old project more credibility.
This stricter stance can surely be viewed as LIV persuading the OGWR that it meets its competitive criteria. Any hopes among those languishing in the standings that LIV would be as lax in applying its relegation rules were left disappointed by a recent missive from the executive that spelt out the urgency of the situation. Relegation means relegation this year and there will be no leeway.
So Poulter, Stenson and co were acutely aware of what was on the line. Lee Westwood, the other Majesticks co-captain, was also under threat, but he shot a gutsy 66 to escape the chop. Unless Stenson can either top the Asian Tour's International Series – which has six tournaments left in 2025, or come through the LIV Golf promotions tournament in December, where only the winner in a 100-golfer plus shoot-out will win a LIV place – then the Majesticks will need a new fourth man.
If circumstances demand, an intriguing return to the DP World Tour is possible for Stenson. He resigned his membership two years ago after he was part of a group of rebel players who lost an appeal against the Tour – with a London hearing adjudicating that Wentworth HQ was within its rights to issue fines and suspension – but he is only required to pay the outstanding fines to reclaim playing privileges on the circuit where he established himself.
At the other end of the standings, Jon Rahm pocketed the near £14m bonus for topping the order of merit – despite not having won an event all year. Joaquin Niemann lifted five titles in 2025, but due to the Spaniard's consistency – he finished in the top 10 in 12 of the 13 tournaments – the Chilean had to settle for second place.
It is a farcical scenario in certain respects, but there can be no doubting Rahm's quality in Indianapolis. He made 10 birdies and an eagle, together with the single bogey to record an 11-under 60. That was good enough to take him into a play-off with Sebastian Munoz, the Mexican who fired a 59 in Friday's first round. But Munoz prevailed to demote Rahm to his second runner-up spot in a row and his third of the season. And there was that lucrative consolation awaiting.
'I feel slightly bittersweet,' Rahm said. 'Like I know I'm supposed to be happy, but it just doesn't feel great to finish the year losing two play-offs. Joaquin has won five times, has played incredible golf, and one could argue he was probably the more deserving guy to win this.
'But we have the points system that we have, and somehow, I don't know how, I managed to pull through and get it done.'
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