LIV Golf has significantly expanded its digital footprint by launching two new gaming platforms, LIV Golf Fantasy and LIV X, developed in partnership with Beyond Sports (a Sony group company).
The collaboration marks Beyond Sports’ first foray into the golf market, utilizing its high-tech gamification tools to lower the barrier of entry for new fans.
LIV Golf Fantasy: A New Approach to Scoring
Breaking away from the heavy data requirements of traditional fantasy sports, LIV Golf Fantasy is designed as a “low-friction,” free-to-play competition.
- Hole-by-Hole Engagement: Unlike standard formats that rely on total round scores, this game features hole-by-hole scoring to keep users invested in every shot of the broadcast.
- Flexible Entry: Fans can join at any point in the season. The league’s first six events will only count a user’s best four scores, ensuring that latecomers aren’t penalized for missing early tournaments.
- Support Tools: The platform includes “Fantasy Caddie” guidance and expert picks to assist casual fans in building competitive lineups.
LIV X: The Digital Loyalty Hub
While the fantasy game focuses on the competition, LIV X serves as the broader ecosystem for fan engagement and rewards.
- Interactive Content: The hub offers daily games, quizzes, and polls that allow fans to rank player performances in real-time.
- Tiered Rewards: Through Beyond Sports’ loyalty platform, users earn points to unlock benefits ranging from presale ticket access to professional swing analysis.
- Personalization: The platform uses “Playbook” technology to provide exclusive, tailored content that increases visibility for LIV’s 13 teams and 57 players.
Strategic Context: The 2026 Shift
The launch of these platforms coincides with a massive overhaul of the LIV Golf League for the 2026 season:
- 72-Hole Format: Moving away from its namesake 54-hole “LIV” roots, the league has adopted the traditional 72-hole, four-day format to align with global standards.
- Expanded Field: The field has grown to 57 players, including 13 teams and five “Wild Card” spots.
- Enhanced Purses: Weekly team prize payouts have doubled from $5 million to $10 million, with all 13 teams now earning prize money at every event.
“This is just the start of a multi-year effort to find more opportunities for golf fans to engage in fun experiences that bring them closer to the action.” — Denise Taylor, Chief Technology Officer, LIV Golf