LIV Golf UK returns to JCB Golf & Country Club with Majesticks and Legion XIII in focus
Final preparations for LIV Golf UK Presented by JCB 2026 began July 21 as Majesticks Golf Club and defending team champions Legion XIII addressed the media ahead of the event, which will take place from July 23 to 26 at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire.
The tournament marks the league’s third visit to the venue. Home team Majesticks Golf Club, featuring co-captains Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood alongside Laurie Canter and Sam Horsfield, emphasized the importance of playing in front of a home crowd. According to Westwood, “It kind of gives you a good feeling with all the crowd support and playing 9 and seeing the Majesticks and the Tea Party and the pub back there, as well. I think we probably have a lot of friends here. I've certainly got a lot of friends coming to town in Nottinghamshire this week. I'm a Midlands lad. It really is a home game this week.” Horsfield said, “Really looking forward to the week. I know the support for us is going to be better than what it was last year. It's always a week that we circle on our calendar.” Poulter reflected on the team’s past success, stating, “I think today when we sit here as four Englishmen on this great team, we had a lot of success that week. It was so much fun. We're trying hard to get back on the podium. Listen, I've won in a couple, he's won in most. I'd love to tick this box if I can. That would be a huge honour to be able to do that, especially in front of home fans and having all the support that we have. That would be pretty magical.” Canter described his experience in the league as “so eye-opening for me as a golfer. If I was just giving that as the opener, just the experiences I've had through the events I've played, the people I've played with, mates I've made, it's been like an incredible journey. Really supported me as a player. Then as this team, obviously the two guys to my right, I said this in 2022 at the opening event, they were generally role models, guys I looked up to growing up. As I've gotten to know them, I respect them a little bit less now (laughter) -- no, they're a couple of very special guys.”
Defending champions Legion XIII, led by captain Jon Rahm, return after securing victories at the same venue in 2024 and 2025. Rahm discussed the significance of potentially clinching the 2026 individual title, saying, “Well, it means a lot more than the simple fact that you're winning. It means that you're playing good golf consistently, and it means that the process has been working. I've always taken a lot of pride in being consistent and having a lot of top 10s, and I think that reflects on those wins.” Teammate Caleb Surratt reflected on his 2025 third place finish and his preparation for this year: “Yeah, I think it was nice to play well here last year. Coming off of a couple good experiences recently. Feel like I'm getting a lot better. The mission doesn't really change. Just trying to do my best, play my hardest, and the course suits me pretty well, so I hope to play well and put myself in contention on Sunday.”
The event also featured the annual Caddie Team Championship, with Legion XIII winning in a three-hole playoff against Fireballs GC after both teams finished 8-under in the nine-hole scramble.
On Thursday, Majesticks Golf Club will celebrate Little Sticks Day, honoring the team’s grassroots school golf programme, Little Sticks. The initiative has impacted over 50,000 young people across 324 UK schools in 2026 alone. According to Poulter, “We've all spent time with these schools, and it's just amazing to see how good they work as a team and as a unity and as groups, even individuals that take on all these challenges. It's been a hard four years to put it into all these schools, but it's very, very special to be here today. Proud that from a team perspective, Majesticks, I think, have done an amazing job with that.”
LIV Golf, now in its fourth full season, features 13 teams and 57 players from 21 countries, competing across 10 countries and five continents. The league aims to expand the sport globally and enhance its societal impact, according to LIV Golf.