A player who holds a PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour Dubai Ranking Event has reportedly been approached by the LIV Golf franchise. When the DP World Tour season ended last month, the top 10 players who had not yet received exemptions were awarded the right to play on the next year's PGA Tour.
It has been confirmed that one of the players has contacted LIV with a view to joining the breakaway league in 2025. Rasmus Hojgaard, Paul Waring, Thriston Lawrence, Jesper Svensson, Niklas Norgaard, Matteo Manassero, Thorbjorn Olesen, Antoine Rozner, Rikuya Hoshino and Tom McKibbin are the 10 players to receive PGA Tour cards from Wentworth Raceway.
Late last month, LIV entered the offseason transfer window, which allows teams to trade players between themselves or bring in new faces from elsewhere. LIV sources confirmed that the team's general manager has been fielding calls from players outside the league.
Most notably, talks with players and the league have increased amid reports that LIV are negotiating a peace deal with the DP World Tour. LIV's backers Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) have been in talks with the PGA Tour to end the dispute for some time, but 18 months after Jay Monahan's original framework agreement, a deal has yet to be signed .
according to Bloombergthe Saudi fund is currently in discussions with DP World Tour on a separate deal. According to reports, under the proposed agreement, players from both tours will be allowed to compete freely.
one sports illustrated Reports in September revealed that LIV had extended an olive branch to DP World Tour, but was rejected. At that time, “Mirror Sports” discovered that the European Tour was unwilling to compromise with LIV and aimed to maintain its previous stance on leaving the league.
The PGA Tour was also informed of the move as the DP World Tour formed a “strategic alliance” with its US partners. LIV insiders believe the tide in professional golf is starting to turn, with players now approaching the league rather than LIV making the first move.
The breakaway league has yet to announce any new names this winter, however, Dustin Johnson's 4Aces have made their first trade of the offseason after Sports Illustrated confirmed Thomas Peters is joining from the RangeGoats. A new face will be announced at the Saudi International later this week, with the leading player from the Asian Tour International Series promoted to LIV.
As it stands, Team USA and LIV injured reserve John Catlin lead the way with one game remaining.