Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has quit LIV Golf and plans to return to the DP World Tour in 2027, days before Sunday’s deadline for players to commit to the league’s relaunch.
The 44-year-old South African, who joined LIV in 2022 and captained the Southern Guards GC team, announced the decision on social media on Wednesday, BBC Sport reported.
“This is probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career, but I have to do what I believe is right for my golf,” Oosthuizen posted.
“Five years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life, moving away from the traditional golf world and into something very special with LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC. I’m the biggest supporter of team golf and always will be. Golf needs more of it.”
Schedule the deciding factor
Oosthuizen said the travel demands of the planned LIV 2.0 league were behind his call. “I realised I have a lot more in me, and my biggest fear was that the schedule on LIV 2.0 would be tough to manage,” he said. “I feel I have a few more years of good, competitive golf left in me, and the only way to be really sharp and competitive is through a schedule I control.”
Read more: Jon Rahm Gives Up LIV Golf Millions in Separation Agreement
Speaking to the South China Morning Post ahead of the Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour, he said: “I need to arrange my own schedule and look after my body. I want to play near one spot for three weeks at a time, not have all the big travelling for one tournament. I loved LIV and the team aspect, but it’s time to move on,” Golf Monthly reported.
Only four players publicly committed
The deadline for players to sign up for LIV 2.0 is 25 October, after it was pushed back by two weeks. Only four players have publicly committed to the league’s future: Richard Bland, Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele and Ben Campbell, Golf Digest reported.
Read more: LIV Golf Cleared to Reject DeChambeau, Cameron Smith Contracts
Oosthuizen joins Thomas Pieters, Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer, David Puig and Adrian Meronk in announcing his departure, according to BBC Sport. Two-time major winner Jon Rahm gave up a reported £75 million owed to him by LIV when he reached a separation agreement with the league last week.
Where it leaves Cameron Smith
A US bankruptcy court last week approved LIV’s request to reject the contracts of a group of players including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert, leaving them free to look elsewhere or negotiate new deals with LIV, Golf Digest reported. Fellow Ripper GC player Marc Leishman was also on the list, Compleat Golfer reported.
Smith, the 2022 Open champion, has not publicly announced whether he will be part of LIV 2.0.
What happens next
LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States in September after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing. Lawyers for the league have said it will know by the end of October whether it has a future or will cease operations, Golf Digest reported.
DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings told BBC Sport earlier this month that players who continue with LIV will not be allowed to be members of the tour next season. Those still with LIV must apply for DP World Tour membership by 16 November, according to Golf Digest.
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