The LIV Golf season may be on hiatus, but that doesn’t mean the tour’s elite are resting completely. Between September 29 and October 5, a swath of LIV golfers will take to global venues in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour, while others chase form (and status) in Asia’s International Series via the Jakarta International Championship.
In total, 17 LIV players are slated to compete at the Dunhill Links, one of the most storied tournaments in golf, rotating across three historic courses: St. Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns.
Simultaneously, the Jakarta International Championship will debut as Indonesia’s most lucrative golf event to date, offering a $2 million purse. For fans of the tour, this week offers a rare lens into how LIV talent performs outside the league’s bubble, and how they adapt when playing in traditional, global fields.
The Alfred Dunhill Links: Classic Venue, Fierce Field
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is unique not just for its prestige, but for its format–a pro-am event played across three courses, with a cut after 54 holes and final round at St. Andrews. The rotation demands strategic mastery: the Old Course is more forgiving, but wind-dependent, Carnoustie is typically the toughest, and Kingsbarns demands precision under pressure.
For LIV players, it’s a test of adaptability and classic links golf skill. Among those to watch:
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Tyrrell Hatton, the defending champion, is viewed as one of the world’s premier links players. Last year he went 24-under to claim victory, including a mind-blowing 11-under 61 on Saturday at St. Andrews.
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Brooks Koepka, who’s struggled with his putting this season, is trying to find momentum. He’s made five prior appearances at the Dunhill Links and only once failed to crack the top-10.
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Dustin Johnson, despite rarely playing on the DP World Tour, returns to the Dunhill Links after a long absence.
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Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Pieters, Matt Jones, and others bring experience and past success at links-style venues.
Of particular intrigue: Frederik Kjettrup, who was relegated from LIV and now must reclaim status through alternative pathways. His debut at the Dunhill Links offers a high-stakes moment. Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin–already flashing strong form in offseason events–may be primed to surprise.
There are also first-timers: Cameron Smith, Brendan Steele, and Bubba Watson will make their Dunhill Links debuts. Their course experience elsewhere is solid, but the links game always offers surprises.
Jakarta International Championship: A New Stage for Rising Pros
While much of the attention will be on Scotland, a subset of LIV-affiliated talent will head to Indonesia for the inaugural Jakarta International Championship, held at Damai Indah Golf–PIK (par-71, 7,124 yards). The event represents a bold step in expanding golf’s global reach via LIV connections and the Asian Tour’s International Series.
Key players to watch include:
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Jinichiro Kozuma, making just his second start since the LIV season concluded.
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Anthony Kim, who is working to resurrect his competitive edge after a long layoff. His practice footage on social media hints at serious intent.
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Chieh-Po Lee, now three starts in four weeks, is building momentum.
This tournament matters for more than immediate results: it’s a pathway for status, confidence, and relevance in markets outside of LIV’s core footprint.
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