La LIV Golf School has experienced a reduction in players in record time. Since the official list of participating golfers was announced until the tee times were released, seven players have dropped out. The list started back on 22 December with 67 names and will finally be played by a total of 60. That’s seven dropouts in 15 days. Bad news for LIV Golf, but very good, of course, for those still registered and going to participate, as they suddenly find themselves with less competition. Among those benefiting are Spaniards Pablo Ereño and Joel Moscatel, who will indeed play at one hundred percent.
The Final of the School or LIV Golf Promotions, as it is officially called, takes place from this Thursday until Sunday at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida. As you know, after the first 18 holes, the top 20 and ties will continue. The qualifiers will join the twenty already exempt in the second round with scores reset to zero, and again, at the end of those second 18 holes, a cut will be made with the top 20 and ties. Those who manage to pass this second cut will play two more rounds of 18 holes, starting again with scores reset to zero. The top three after those 36 holes will play individually this year in LIV Golf, and the top ten will earn a spot to play in the International Series of the Asian Tour.
The seven players who have dropped out are South African Deon Germishuys, winner of three tournaments on the Sunshine Tour; Englishman Callum Tarren, a player on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the last two years; Norwegian Andreas Halvorsen, winner on the Challenge Tour and fourth place in the last AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open of the DP World Tour; South African MJ Daffue, a golfer who has played in recent years on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and DP World Tour; Englishman Barclay Brown, winner of a tournament on the Clutch Pro Tour; Australian Anthony Quayle, winner of two tournaments on the PGA Tour Australasia and who has six top 10 finishes in his last seven tournaments. He played the recent Australian PGA Championship with Steve Williams as caddie; and Chinese Yuxin Lin, a player on the PGA Tour Americas last season.
There is no official explanation to justify each of these last-minute absences, but it all points to being related to the current PGA Tour regulations, whereby anyone who competes in a LIV Golf tournament, including its School, will face a one-year suspension from participating in any tournament organised by the PGA Tour, including its own School. Many of these players had planned to return to play the PGA Tour School in 2025 or could even receive an invitation like Tarren, and they have preferred not to risk this possibility by playing in Florida.
