Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is walking away from LIV Golf. The South African star confirmed his exit on Wednesday, ending a five-year run with the breakaway circuit. The DP World Tour is set for his return in January 2027. This move comes as the league faces deep uncertainty over its funding and future structure.
Oosthuizen was one of the first players to join the league when it launched in June 2022. He led the Southern Guards GC team since day one. Now, he says it is time to move on. The 44-year-old feels he has more competitive golf left in his game, but only if he can control his own schedule.
Why The Schedule Won The Day
The proposed new plan for the league, known as LIV 2.0, involves a scaled-back schedule. Oosthuizen told the South China Morning Post that this plan requires too much global travel for single tournaments. A single location is where he aims to compete for three weeks at once. He does not want to deal with the big traveling for just one event.
Ahead of this week’s Hong Kong Open, the 44-year-old stated, “I need to arrange my own schedule and look after my body” He added that the travel burden on the new model would be tough to manage, according to the Independent. “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, according to TimesLIVE. Control over his calendar is now the only way he can stay sharp.
The league is currently navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund cut its funding in April. LIV has secured fresh investment from BC Partners Credit. The league must decide this month whether to cease operations or move forward with a revised model. Oosthuizen’s departure adds to the growing list of players leaving the circuit.
No Regrets On The Team Concept
Despite leaving, Oosthuizen holds no regrets about his time in the breakaway league. He called it a very special experience. “Five years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life, moving away from the traditional golf world and into something very special with LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC,” Oosthuizen said.
He remains a firm believer in the team aspect of the game. The team brought him together with longtime friends Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, and Dean Burmester. This connection made the decision to leave one of the hardest of his career. “This is probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career, but I have to do what I believe is right for my golf,” he said via a statement, according to OFM News.
The 2010 Open Champion helped bring LIV to South Africa for the first time in March 2026. Steyn City hosted their home supporters as his team secured second place. He called bringing the international league to his home soil one of the best things he has done in his career. That success was a highlight, but the future requires a different path.
Rory McIlroy recently stated his intention to vote for reinstating former LIV players into the PGA Tour. He argued that having these players back helps the business of the tours.
