Former Open Champion Oosthuizen Exits LIV Golf, Returns to DP World Tour

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner, has announced his departure from LIV Golf ahead of a Sunday deadline for players to commit to the league's proposed 2027 restructuring. The 44-year-old South African, who captained the Southern Guards GC team since LIV's inception in June 2022, cited scheduling constraints and the need for greater control over his competitive calendar as reasons for his exit.

Oosthuizen explained that the proposed LIV 2.0 model would require "a lot of international travel for single events," conflicting with his preference to play near one location for extended periods. In a statement posted to social media, he described the decision as "probably the hardest decision I've had to make in my career" but emphasized that returning to the DP World Tour in 2027 would allow him to maintain the sharp, competitive fitness he believes necessary for major championship contention.

His departure follows a significant exodus from the Saudi-backed circuit. LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its multibillion-dollar backing. Other major champions including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, and Abraham Ancer have announced or initiated their exits. A U.S. bankruptcy court judge recently allowed LIV Golf to reject certain player contracts, including Oosthuizen's, as part of restructuring efforts.

LIV Golf secured a potential $300 million investment from BC Partners Credit to attempt the 2027 relaunch, though the deal reportedly requires retention of sufficient top-tier players to proceed. Players faced a Sunday deadline to declare commitment; some sources indicated BC Partners could extend it. DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings stated that players continuing with LIV 2.0 in 2027 would not receive conditional membership status on the European circuit. Oosthuizen, an 11-time DP World Tour winner, has expressed particular interest in competing at the 2027 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, a course where he won his sole major victory.