Which player is top of the LIV Golf Tour Order of Merit?

Amongst all of the exciting signings and controversial headlines, LIV Golf is up and running and so is their individual Order of Merit which will crown a champion after seven events.

As LIV Golf say, "Every shot counts," and through three events, each player has accumulated points which have put them into position on the Order of Merit.

Following the conclusion of the LIV Golf Invitational at Bedminster, Branden Grace is top of the Order of Merit with 70 points. He won the second LIV event at Portland at the start of July.

The South African came third at Centurion and 13th at Bedminster. He has earned $6,918,333 since making the switch from the PGA Tour which is more than any other player so far.

After seven events, with the eighth event being the team championship finale in Miami at the end of October, the player at the top of the Order of Merit will win $18 million. The runner-up will earn $8 million and third place will bag $4 million. 

This is only available to players who participate in at least four events. There are three more events to come in Chicago, Bangkok and Jeddah and the 2023 LIV Golf season is set to grow into a 14-event schedule with the prize money yet to be confirmed.

Grace is 16 points ahead of two-time major champion Dustin Johnson who has accumulated 54 points since making the controversial switch to the Saudi-backed series.

Johnson carded a 3-under-par 67 in the first round of the Boston Invitational on Friday, four shots behind the leaders Talor Gooch and Matthew Wolff.

Here are the top eight players in the current LIV Golf Order of Merit table:

1. Branden Grace (SA) 70 points
2. Dustin Johnson (USA) 54 points
3. Carlos Ortiz (MEX) 48 points
4. Charl Schwartzel (SA) 42 points
5. Matthew Wolff (USA) 42 points
6. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 40 points
7. Patrick Reed (USA) 40 points
8. Talor Gooch (USA) 34 points