LIV Golf has seen a number of players join the Saudi-backed breakaway tour, with a select few being cut from the league – here we look at where those players are now
LIV Golf has certainly transformed the professional game, but for some players, their defection was as short-lived as it was profitable. The majority of those who chose to leave the PGA Tour are now earning staggering amounts, with Jon Rahm leading the 2024 standings having earned nearly £13million in tournament winnings alone.
This figure rises to £26.5m after his bonus for topping the standings, while Joaquin Niemann earned £21.8m for finishing second and Tyrrell Hatton £12.25m for coming third. Even Anthony Kim, who finished last among the 54 full-time LIV players, pocketed more than £709,000.
Fortunately for Kim, he’s safe from relegation due to his wildcard status, with Kieran Vincent, Bubba Watson, Branden Grace, Scott Vincent and Kalle Samooja potentially facing the chop before 2025. These five will have a chance to reclaim their LIV spot through the promotions tournament, or they’ll have to make do with an Asian Tour card next year.
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We take a look at what happened to those who have already been let go by the Saudi-backed tour since leaving, including nine players who only lasted the inaugural event at the Centurion Club in June 2022.
Oliver Bekker. The South African golfer pocketed £611,000 after finishing tied-sixth at Centurion. However, this wasn’t enough to secure him a permanent spot in LIV and he quickly returned to the DP World Tour. His only victory since then was at a Challenger Tour event, the 2023 Dimension Data Pro-AM, and he hasn’t appeared in any major championships since.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat made headlines in April 2022 when, at just 15 years old, he won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup, becoming the youngest-ever winner of an OWGR event. This achievement earned him an invitation to LIV’s opening act, but after finishing tied-38th, there has been little news about him and he remains an amateur player.
Englishman Oliver Fisher finished with the same score as the teenager. He promptly returned to his usual routine, only to miss the cut at the BMW International Open. Since then, the 36-year-old has spent most of his time on the Challenge Tour.
Pablo Larrazabal, who seemed committed to the DP World Tour, was a surprise participant at Centurion and ended up tied-13th, earning £275,000. Shortly afterwards, he was back in Europe and came fifth at the BMW event, later winning the Korea Championship and KLM Open in 2023. He did participate in three major championships last year, but his best effort was tied-65th at the PGA Championship. Now 41, he appears to be a fading force.
Viraj Madappa. Another one-hit wonder at LIV, who finished tied-30th in Centurion before swiftly returning to the Asian Tour. He’s still competing there and on the Professional Golf Tour of India, but there’s been little sign of a LIV recall.
Andy Ogletree arrived at Centurion, finished last, and promptly returned to the Asian Tour. However, the US amateur champion has since bounced back by winning their 2023 International Series Order of Merit to re-earn his spot at LIV for 2024, finishing 33rd in the overall standings this season.
JC Ritchie is another forgotten man. The South African tied-17th at Centurion, made £177,000 and has rarely been seen since after struggling on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.
Blake Windred, like Ritchie, is one of the more underwhelming ‘where are they now’ stories. He struggled at Centurion, and the Australian was soon back on the Challenge Tour, missing 12 consecutive cuts before fading into obscurity.
Kevin Yuan, another Asian Tour star, was invited to the LIV Golf debut, but seemingly only to makeup the numbers. Yuan finished tied-33rd just weeks later and was back playing the Korean Open. He continues to compete on the Australasia and the Asian Tour, currently ranked 747th in the world.
Jediah Morgan, the Australasia Tour order of merit winner in 2022, earned a full-time spot on the LIV Golf circuit the following year and made £3.5million, only to finish 46th overall. After failing to earn a lifeline in the promotion event that followed, his relegation was confirmed. The 24-year-old Australian has since returned to both his former organisation and the Asian Tour, delivering some impressive performances.
Chase Koepka, perhaps the most well-known axed LIV star due to his surname, played on brother Brooks’ Smash GC team but only managed to secure 48th place individually, earning £5.1million. Like Morgan, he failed to save himself in the promotions event and hasn’t participated in a world ranking event since.
James Piot, who lasted longer than most on this list, played full-time on the LIV Golf circuit in both 2022 and 2023. Like Morgan and Koepka, he was relegated after finishing 47th in the standings last year, but has since pledged to attempt a return to the rebel circuit via the Asian Tour, where he made more than £3m.
Sihwan Kim earned a similar amount to Pitt, primarily through his Heads GC team. He finished 50th and last in the standings and has carried his poor form back to the Asian Tour and KPGA Tour, where he’s since failed to challenge for wins.
