Contact here for Advertising & Partnerships // Support the newsletter here.
LIV Golf’s player exodus is becoming an existential problem
LIV Golf’s attempt to reinvent itself for 2027 faces a serious problem: some of the players who helped establish it no longer want to be part of it.
Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter and Tom McKibbin confirmed their departures on Friday, joining a growing list that includes Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Thomas Pieters.
The departures follow the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s decision to end its financial backing earlier this year. LIV subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September and has secured investment from BC Partners Credit as it works to restructure. The proposed LIV 2.0 would run a reduced, ten-event calendar in 2027, but players face an initial deadline of 25 October to decide whether to commit.
Hatton’s departure is particularly significant because, unlike players nearing the end of their careers, the 35-year-old remains an established Ryder Cup competitor with plenty of playing time ahead. McKibbin, meanwhile, has decided that returning to a full DP World Tour schedule better serves his career.
LIV's problem is that its original proposition depended heavily on guaranteed money and an established collection of stars, so as the financial structure changes, players are reassessing what the circuit offers. Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann were among the prominent names whose decisions remained unresolved in the latest reporting.
Why it matters: LIV is trying to secure commitments to a new business model while losing some of the talent that made the original product commercially attractive. Its future now depends on whether the revised proposition can retain enough star power to justify continued investment.
The PGA Tour is doubling the number of cards available through the Korn Ferry Tour
The PGA Tour has announced a significant change to the route into its top level, with 40 cards available through the Korn Ferry Tour in 2027, which is double the current allocation of 20. The expansion is tied to the PGA Tour’s new competitive structure, which begins in 2028.
The leading ten players on the 2027 Korn Ferry Tour points list will qualify for the new PGA Tour Championship Series, while the next 30 will receive Challenger Series membership. The 2027 calendar will feature 25 tournaments across seven countries and 15 US states, with the Golf Channel covering ten events. The season will conclude with four Finals tournaments.
The changes could make the developmental circuit more commercially attractive to broadcasters and brands. More cards mean more players competing for meaningful promotion, while the new membership structure introduces another layer of competition.
Professional golf’s pathways are being redesigned, with the Korn Ferry Tour gaining greater importance as a qualification system and the PGA Tour gaining a clearer structure to separate its leading players from the wider membership.
A 13-Year-Old Amateur Makes History on the Ladies European Tour
Indian amateur Ojaswini Saraswat has become the youngest player to make the cut at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, achieving the milestone at just 13 years, six months and 14 days old. After opening with a seven-over-par 79 at DLF Golf & Country Club, she responded with a three-under-par 69 in the second round to secure her place in the weekend field.
Her second round included seven birdies and was the day's joint-lowest score, a ten-shot improvement on her opening performance. In doing so, Saraswat broke the tournament record previously held by Aditi Ashok, who made the cut as a 14-year-old in 2012, while also becoming the second-youngest player to achieve the feat at any Ladies European Tour event.
The performance is particularly notable given the course's difficulty and the challenge of recovering from a disappointing opening round at such a young age. Saraswat’s achievement also provides another encouraging moment for Indian women’s golf, which has produced increasingly competitive players on the international stage.
Stephen Curry and Miura Launch a Limited-Edition Golf Iron
Stephen Curry has partnered with Japanese equipment manufacturer Miura on a limited-edition iron set that brings together premium clubmaking, basketball culture and the NBA star’s involvement in golf. The collaboration draws on the Miura clubs Curry uses, with a bespoke iron featuring 30 degrees of loft to honour his jersey number and additional detailing referencing his four NBA championships.
The project also has a charitable element, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Underrated Golf Tour, Curry’s initiative designed to create more opportunities for young golfers from underrepresented communities. That connection gives the collaboration a purpose beyond the product itself, linking Curry’s growing involvement in golf to an established participation programme.
What makes the release interesting is how it incorporates personal details into the equipment rather than simply applying a celebrity’s name to an existing product. Miura brings specialist manufacturing credibility, while Curry provides access to an audience that extends well beyond the company’s traditional customers.
For premium golf manufacturers, collaborations of this kind offer a way to introduce their craftsmanship to new consumers without abandoning their technical identity. They also show how athletes from other sports can drive golf’s commercial growth through products that genuinely connect to their interests.
PXG Introduces Its Latest Secret Weapon Mini Driver
PXG has introduced a new generation of its Secret Weapon Mini Driver, continuing the growing interest among equipment manufacturers in clubs that sit between conventional drivers and fairway woods. The new model features a 300cc clubhead, 13 degrees of loft and adjustable weighting, with PXG claiming that a face more than four per cent thinner than its predecessor helps improve ball speed and forgiveness.
Mini drivers offer golfers another option off the tee, especially those seeking greater control without sacrificing too much distance. Although the category has existed for some time, renewed interest from manufacturers and professional players has made it an increasingly visible part of the equipment market.
Manufacturers also have an interesting commercial opportunity. Rather than simply competing to replace a golfer’s existing driver, mini drivers can encourage customers to add another specialist club to their bags, potentially creating demand in a previously less prominent category.
Independent testing will need to assess PXG's performance claims, but the launch shows manufacturers continuing to explore different club configurations as they look for opportunities beyond traditional product upgrades.
Galvin Green Signs Walker Cup Player Eliot Baker
Galvin Green has announced a sponsorship agreement with Walker Cup player Eliot Baker, adding another emerging golfer to its roster as the specialist apparel manufacturer continues to develop its presence in professional golf.
For equipment and clothing brands, relationships with emerging players offer a different commercial proposition from signing established stars. The financial commitment can be lower, while the partnership provides an opportunity to develop a longer-term association with an athlete whose profile may grow considerably.
The value of those relationships increasingly extends beyond tournament appearances. Players can contribute to product development, social content and brand storytelling, particularly when their personalities and interests align with the manufacturer’s identity.
For a specialist business such as Galvin Green, supporting emerging talent can therefore build credibility in competitive golf and a more personal connection with consumers.
Thanks for reading. If you hit the like button, you’ll be doing us a huge favour.
Baller Golf