Louis Oosthuizen leaves LIV Golf in latest blow to circuit that is seemingly hanging on by a thread
The next iteration of LIV Golf – whatever that may or may not look like – has suffered yet another blow with former major champion Louis Oosthuizen announcing that he is leaving the circuit.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open winner, announced his departure from LIV on social media on Wednesday, while also laying out plans to return to the DP World Tour beginning in 2027.
The South African stated that joining LIV five years ago was “one of the best decisions” of his life, but cited controlling his future schedule on the DP World Tour as playing a key role in him stepping away.
Louis Oosthuizen on the 2nd tee during day one of the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Carnoustie Golf Links course, Angus on Thursday October 2, 2025. (Photo by Malcolm Mackenzie/PA Images via Getty Images) (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA Images via Getty Images)
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“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,” Oosthuizen said on Instagram. “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.”
Oosthuizen’s announcement comes just days before the Oct. 25 deadline for players to commit to LIV 2.0, and at this point in time, Cameron Tringale, Richard Bland, Ben Campbell, Victor Perez, and Brendan Steele appear to be the only players to have done so.
Louis Oosthuizen of Stinger GC reacts after a putt on the second green during Day Three at LIV Michigan at The Cardinal at Saint John’s on August 24, 2025 in Plymouth, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) (Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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While Oosthuizen’s departure from LIV doesn’t deliver the same-sized blow as Jon Rahm’s exit, it is quite the peculiar move.
Oosthuizen is 44 years old and has been with LIV Golf since its inception in 2022, while serving as captain for his all-South African team. Stepping away from LIV, and presumably guaranteed paydays plus an equity stake in the LIV 2.0 model promised to its players, is a noteworthy decision.
You couple those factors with his own note about scheduling issues, and it’s hard not to assume that Oosthuizen simply sees the not-so-great writing on the wall regarding LIV’s future.
The LIV Golf logo is near the first tee during the second round of the LIV Golf Dallas golf tournament at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, on June 28, 2025. (Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images)
LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew all financial support from the league at the end of the 2026 campaign. BC Partners made a financial commitment two days before bankruptcy hearings began in the form of a target of $300 million for an attempted LIV return in 2027.
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A lawyer representing LIV Golf reportedly told a federal bankruptcy court judge on October 14 that the circuit will know by the end of the month if it has a future into 2027 or will be shutting down operations.
The DP World Tour recently announced that, unlike in years past, it will not be giving conditional status for LIV players to compete on its tour in 2027, forcing players to choose one route or the other.
