2023 LIV Golf Promotions – Syndication Server

Q&A: Why this USGA champion and top college golfer played in the LIV Golf Promotions event

One of the top amateurs speaks about his experience at the LIV Golf Promotions event.

Sampson Zheng was one of four amateurs to tee it up last week in the 2023 LIV Golf Promotions event, but his resume was the deepest of them all.

He won the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Kiawah Island last summer and finished as a co-medalist at the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. A senior at Cal, Zheng is also in the PGA Tour University rankings for 2024, which gives top college seniors a chance at PGA Tour membership as well as eligibility and starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas.

However, last week Zheng traveled to Abu Dhabi and played in the LIV Golf Promotions event. He was exempt into the second round and was one of 20 players – and the only amateur – to make the 36-hole final. He finished T-11, one shot out of earning status on the Asian tour.

Zheng spoke with Golfweek about his decision to play in the LIV Golf Promotions event, his experience last week and more.

Meet the three players who earned 2024 status via the inaugural LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi

The league welcomes three new players, including it’s first-ever from Japan.

Three new players have punched their LIV Golf tickets for 2024.

After three days of play and 72 holes of competition – including 36 on Sunday – Kalle Samooja, Kieran Vincent and Jinichiro Kozuma have advanced from the inaugural LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and will have a spot on a team for the 2024 season.

Samooja, 35, has been a journeyman in professional golf and earned his first DP World Tour win in 2022 at the Porsche European Open. Vincent, 26, has primarily played on the Asian Tour and PGA Tour Canada in his young career. His lone professional win came back in April at the 2023 International Series Vietnam. Kozuma, 29, has played on the Japan Golf Tour since 2012 and has two wins under his belt, the 2020 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters and 2022 Token Homemate Cup.

The following players who finished Nos. 4-10 have earned exemptions into the 2024 International Series on the Asian Tour: Laurie Canter, Jaco Ahlers, Zach Bauchou, Poom Saksansin, Kevin Chappell, Martin Trainer, Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

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Meet the 20 golfers vying for three spots Sunday at the LIV Golf Promotions event

These 20 players have a shot at LIV.

It all comes down to this.

On Saturday at Abi Dhabi Golf Club, 42 golfers teed it up over 18 holes vying for 20 spots come Sunday at the LIV Golf Promotions event. It took a playoff to settle the final spots, but the 20 players are set.

After Sunday’s 36-hole final, the top-three finishers will earn spots in the LIV Golf League for the 2024 season. Included in the 20-player field on Sunday include a former NCAA individual champion, a 2023 USGA champion and multiple former PGA Tour pros.

Here’s a look at the 20 players battling it out for three spots Sunday at the LIV Golf Promotions event.

Former NCAA champ, PGA Tour pro among 29 players to advance into second round of LIV Golf Promotions event

The inaugural LIV Golf Promotions event is underway.

As if there hasn’t been enough LIV Golf news the past 24 hours, the LIV Golf Promotions event teed off Friday in Abu Dhabi, where three spots are up for grabs for the 2024 season.

And after the first round, there are 42 players battling it out for those spots.

Twenty-nine players advanced after the first 18-hole round, with Kerry Mountcastle leading the pack after an 8-under 64 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The cut, which was top-20 and ties, came at 2-under 70, and included players like Braden Thornberry, the 2017 NCAA individual champion, and Martin Trainer, who has 131 starts on the PGA Tour.

In addition to the 29 players who advanced from the first round, the 13 exempt players into the second round will join the competition come Saturday, where scores will reset. The top 20 players (no ties) after Saturday’s 18-hole round will advance to Sunday’s 36-hole final, with the top three earning status for the 2024 LIV Golf season.

Some of those golfers to miss the cut include Chris Stroud, who voiced his displeasure with the PGA Tour last week. He bogeyed two of his last three holes to miss by one. Jeff Overton, Turk Pettit and Jazz Jannewattananond are others who are also heading home empty handed.

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