Bubba Watson left it very late before springing a surprise with his team for the 2026 season…

It had been assumed Bubba Watson was keen for change. 

The two-time Masters champion was planning to shake up his underperforming LIV Golf team for the upcoming season and Ben Campbell appeared to be the fall guy in his plans. 

Campbell, who became the first New Zealander to play on LIV following a season in the shadows as a reserve, finished 36th in the individual standings in 2025 and was vulnerable to being released. 

Despite finishing ahead of his RangeGoats GC teammates Matthew Wolff and Peter Uhlein, the 34-year-old was going to need to fight yet again for his place in the league. 

At least that was the consensus. With talk on social media that Watson was attempting to lure PGA Tour player Max Greyserman to LIV with a big signing on fee, Campbell reluctantly put his name down to play in the league’s Promotions Event in Florida this weekend. 

So there was another element of surprise during LIV’s turbulent offseason, when Campbell withdrew from the qualifier at the last minute and it was confirmed he’d be part of Watson’s unchanged line-up. 

“We’re looking forward to getting the 2026 season started,” Watson said. “Injury and illness hurt our momentum last year, so we’re excited for a fresh, healthy start in 2026. We have all the talent we need. We just have to step up and compete all season long.”

Campbell, meanwhile, was just grateful for the second chance. 

“We’d still been obviously talking with the RangeGoats and LIV, and I think it was more just that entries were closing, so we just entered it,” he told TG on a phone call, ironically speaking about his withdrawal from LIV Promotions after a stint in the commentary box at the event.

“Obviously people ran with whatever idea they wanted to run with. I was sort of hoping that I didn’t need to play and then it turned out to be that way, which was nice. It was more just entering it as plan B, so yeah, it was great how it worked out.

“There’s been a lot happening with LIV in the last sort of few months and I’ve been keeping in touch with the guys. I was happy with how it ended up turning out. 

“I knew at the start of the year what I needed to do to be 100% guaranteed and I didn’t manage to do that. If I’d played a little bit better and finished inside that top 24, then I wouldn’t have to go through this. 

“It’s professional golf and you know what you’ve got to do, so hopefully this year I can make sure I finish in that lock zone and, you know, don’t put it to chance.”

Much is made of the established names cashing in in the later stages of their highly lucrative careers, but Campbell’s LIV experience has been genuinely life-changing.

After grinding away and earning two wins on the Asian Tour, he earned over $3million in prize money across the 14 events in his first full LIV season. He also insists that time spent at close quarters with the likes of Phil Mickelson and Cam Smith has drastically improved his game. 

“After spending a year as a reserve and then last year, I think I’ll definitely feel a bit more comfortable out there this time,” he said. 

“Top-15 on the money list would be a good realistic goal to set for the year. I’d like to be up there and have a chance at winning one, too.

“I had a tough start to my career as a professional with injuries. So it’s nice now to have the body feeling good and to be playing some good golf. It’s always nice when you’re playing good golf to be able to play somewhere where it really matters.” 

In comparison to the traditional tours, LIV is accused of lacking meritocracy and jeopardy, with relatively low player turnover combining with the inordinate prize purses.

But with three spots into the league for 2025, plus the prospect of up to 11 relegation spots in 2026, CEO Scott O’Neil is making strides to dispel LIV’s tag as a closed shop. 

“There’s a lot [of jeopardy],” Campbell argues. “People who argue that, I’d say go have a look at the driving range after play and see who’s out there, the guys are still working hard.

“Sometimes it’s just the opposite. Guys know how good it is out there. And so no one wants to lose that. One thing over the last couple of years being out there, you know, that’s really surprised me how hard the guys are working. 

“Whether it be DJ [Dustin Johnson], whether it be Harold Varner, you know, like the guys are, the guys are still out there working hard. Cam [Smith] has obviously had a bit of an up and down year and I’ve spent a lot of time with Cam over the years and he’s been working hard. 

“I think sometimes with people’s opinion, I think you’ve got to go to the events and see the guys working before you judge it.”