The recent wave of players moving away from LIV Golf has opened the door for more changes in professional golf. Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour earlier this season was the first major shift and Patrick Reed soon followed by confirming his own plans to work toward a Tour comeback.
With the PGA Tour now allowing certain major winners to regain membership through its Returning Member Program several LIV players are being linked with possible exits. Betting site Casino Beats has even listed a few names as potential next defectors.
Here are three golfers who could be the next to leave LIV Golf.
Golfers who could leave LIV Golf
1. Tyrrell Hatton (2/1)
Tyrrell Hatton is currently the favorite to be the next LIV player to move back to the PGA Tour. Casino Beats lists the Englishman at 2/1 to follow Koepka and Reed back to the PGA circuit.
Ollie Ring, spokesperson for Casino Beats, said:
“Following the bombshell news of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed declaring their intent to rejoin the PGA Tour this year after leaving LIV we have Tyrrell Hatton as the most likeliest player to defect next.”
Hatton has yet to win a major championship and continues to face challenges with world ranking points while playing on LIV. With LIV events still not counting toward the Official World Golf Ranking his chances of qualifying for majors and Ryder Cup selection remain under pressure. A return to the PGA Tour could help protect those opportunities.
2. Dustin Johnson
Next on the list is former world number one Dustin Johnson. The two time major champion recently signed a new multi year contract with LIV Golf and remains captain of 4Aces GC. Despite the rumors Johnson has played down the idea of leaving.
Speaking during the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, he said:
“I don’t see me going anywhere else.”
Johnson has also mentioned he is open to playing more DP World Tour events alongside LIV in the future. While his current stance suggests he plans to stay put, the shifting landscape in golf means his name continues to come up in exit discussions.
3. Joaquin Niemann
Joaquin Niemann is third in the betting list. The Chilean has been one of LIV Golf’s standout performers, winning several events since joining in 2022 after claiming two PGA Tour victories earlier in his career.
Niemann has openly criticized the world ranking system, saying it is hurting players on LIV who are trying to qualify for major championships.
“I think on the OWGR they’ve probably been a little bit more receptive. But I think they’re afraid of doing the right thing. I do think time will tell how we’re going to end it up with world rankings. But taking that long is just making a big damage into the game,” Niemann said.
Despite his success on LIV, Niemann currently sits well outside the top 100 in the rankings, which continues to put his major status at risk.
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