While LIV Golf seem to have strengthened their roster over the winter, it is fair to say they have not landed a headline signing ahead of the 2026 season.
It was not long ago that the end of every golf season was filled with speculation over which big names might leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
Most players made their move early on, but LIV made a statement in December 2023 by signing Jon Rahm. That deal was expected to push both sides towards an agreement.
Soon after, The Times reported that the league wanted to sign Tyrrell Hatton, having already been turned down by Tommy Fleetwood.
Tommy Fleetwood addresses whether LIV Golf have made contact this winter
There has been speculation this winter linking LIV to several notable PGA Tour players. Max Greyserman was reportedly in talks over a lucrative move, and Akshay Bhatia turned down an offer.
It is hard to imagine they did not at least explore the possibility with most players, hoping to add more names. Byeong Hun An is one who ended up making the move after some consideration.
However, speaking before the Dubai Desert Classic, Fleetwood made it clear that he hasn’t been approached by LIV.
“Yeah, they haven’t sniffed around me in this postseason. Yeah, I don’t know,” he said.
“We don’t really talk about it that much. I haven’t heard of that. I think you definitely see changes, and I think some very good golfers have gone over to LIV and have chosen to go to LIV. It’s probably going to cost a lot of money, right, to get some big-name players.”
“You know, I don’t know what their strategy will be or who they will be looking at to go or how they want to go about it, but they don’t talk to me.”
LIV Golf are still figuring out the direction they want to go in
LIV Golf seem to be having an identity crisis at the moment. There is no question they have signed some of the best young talent in the game, and players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau appear committed for now.
It is possible that deepening the middle tier of their league will pay off over time. Victor Perez and Laurie Canter, for example, may not be big names, but they do represent an upgrade over previous players.
Still, if LIV are not moving forward as quickly as hoped, perhaps a focus on younger players would have been wiser. Most of their recent signings are already nearing their mid-30s.
For now, LIV’s path forward seems to hinge on developing young talent into major contenders while remaining open to any top players who might reconsider their stance in the future.
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