LIV Golf has undoubtedly changed the face of the professional ggame but for some rebel players, defection has proved as brief as it has lucrative. The majority of those who opted to jump ship from the PGA Tour are now raking in colossal sums, with Jon Rahm topping the 2024 standings having made almost £13million in tournament winnings alone.
That sum is increased to £26.5m following his payout for topping the standings, with Joaquin Niemann raking in £21.8m for finishing second and Tyrrel Hatton £12.25m for coming third. Even Anthony Kim, who finished bottom of the list of the 54 full-time LIV players, warned himself more than £709,000.
Luckily for Kim, he’s exempt from relegation given his wildcard status, with Kieran Vincent, Bubba Watson, Branden Grace, Scott Vincent and Kalle Samooja the men in the frame to be axed before 2025. The five will be given a chance to win their LIV spot back via the promotions tournament, but otherwise will have to settle for the consolation of an Asian Tour card next year.
Express Sport looks at what happened to those who have already been released by the Saudi-backed tour since jumping ship, including nine players who only lasted the inaugural event at the Centurion Club in June 2022….
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Oliver Bekker
The South African made £611,000 for finishing tied-sixth at Centurion, but that wasn’t enough to earn him a permanent LIV place and he promptly returned to the DP World Tour. His only win since came on a Challenger Tour event, the 2023 Dimension Data Pro-AM, and has not been seen in any major championships.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat
Burst onto the scene in April 2022 when at 15, he captured the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup to become the youngest every winner of an OWGR event. That earned him an invite to LIV’s opening act, but after finishing tied-38th, there’s been little word on him since and he remains an amateur player.
Oliver Fisher
Finishing on the same score as the teenager was Englishman Oliver Fisher, who promptly returned to the status quo only to miss the cut at the BMW International Open. Since then, the 36-year-old has spent the bulk of his time on the Challenge Tour.
Pablo Larrazabal
Having appeared committed to the DP World Tour, was a surprise entrant at Centurion and ended up tied-13th to earn £275,000. Soon after he was back in Europe and finished fifth at the BMW event, and later captured the Korea Championship and KLM Open in 2023.
Did play in three major championships last year, but tied-65th at the PGA Championship represented his best effort. At 41, now appears a fading force.
Viraj Madappa
Another one-hit LIV wonder, was tied-30th in Centurion before promptly being sent back to the Asian Tour. Still competing there and the Professional Golf Tour of India, but there’s been little sign of LIV recall.
Andy Ogletree
Arrived at Centurion, finished last, and soon returned to the Asian Tour. But 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, and was 33rd in the overall standings this season.
JC Ritchie
Another forgotten man. The South African was tied-17th at Centurion, made £177,000 and has rarely been since after struggling on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.
Blake Windred
Like Ritchie, one of the more underwhelming ‘where are they now’ merchants. Struggled at Centurion, and the Australian was soon back on the Challenge Tour and missed 12 consecutive cuts before falling away to obscurity.
Kevin Yuan
Another Asian Tour star who was invited to the LIV Golf debut, but only seemingly to make up the numbers. Yuan finished tied-33rd just just weeks later, was back playing the Korean Open. He’s continued to compete on the Australasia and the Asian Tour, and his 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 aws confirmed.
Since then, the 24-year-old Australian has been back with both his former organisation and the Asian Tour, and has turned in some impressive performances. One LIV reject for whom hope might not be lost.
Chase Koepka
Perhaps the most famous axed LIV star, even if only for his surname. Played on brother Brooks’ Smash GC team but only managed 48th place individually, earning £5.1million. Like Morgan, failed to save himself in the promotions event and has not played a world ranking event since.
James Piot
Hung around longer than most on this list, Piot played full-time on the LIV Golf circuit in both 2022 and 2023. Like Morgan, and Koepka, was relegated after being 47th in the standings last year, but has since vowed to try and return to the rebel circuit, where he made more than £3m, through the Asian Tour.
Sihwan Kim
Made a similar amount to his compatriot Pitt, but mainly through his Heads GC team. Finished 50th and last in the standings and has taken his poor form back to the Asian Tour and KPGA Tour, where he’s since failed to challenge for wins.
