So much for the Saudi rebel circuit which is just an extremely lucrative resting place for big names with their best years behind them.
Telegraph Sport has learned that the LIV Golf Series will announce two new recruits under 25 on Monday, both of whom have huge potential.
Matthew Wolff, 23, was in the top 20 in the world early last year after becoming the first male golfer for 132 years to finish in the top five in his first two majors.
The Californian has since dropped to 75th in the rankings, with four missed cuts in his last five events, and those who still bizarrely insist on ridiculing the LIV roster will no doubt point to Wolff’s unorthodox swing and claim so too. he just the up-front dollars while they are available.
But rest assured that Wolff’s exit from the PGA Tour, knowing he will be suspended indefinitely once his ball is in the air at Thursday’s second $25 million LIV event, is remarkable. Just like that of the Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra.
The 22-year-old was the second-highest-ranked amateur in the world, and his performances on the U.S. collegiate circuit with Oklahoma State have earned him the nickname “Nino Marvilla” (“Wonder Boy”).
But after recently saying that he intended to follow the lead of compatriot Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 3 who completed all four years of his scholarship to the state of Arizona, he has decided to apply directly to LIV. jumping, assuming that even if he finished last in each of the seven LIv events leaving this year and the 10 remaining next year, he would still have more than £2 million guaranteed. There is probably also a sign up bonus.
“My position is that of a player who is not a member of the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, and I didn’t make any money when I was an amateur, so I can play in this league without any problems,” said Chacarra, whose sister Carolina also made a splash in her time at American university, Marca told me.
“This contract gives me peace of mind and ensures the future of my family. My grandfather always told me that if you have the chance, you should take the train.”
Perhaps it wasn’t just the words of a relative that helped convince the young Madridian. Chacarra’s mentor is Sergio Garcia, who is already on LIV’s books and has canceled his PGA Tour membership.
Chacarra is believed to be joining the stable of GSE Worldwide, the agency that also oversees the careers of several LIV players, including Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace – and Wolff.
The US-based company also has Carlos Ortiza as a client and it is clear that the 31-year-old will be the third player named by LIV today as it completes its 48-man field for its first event on US soil to take place. in Portland, Oregon this week.
Ortiz, the world’s number 115, joins Mexican Abraham Ancer, another GSE player. The world’s number 20 was unveiled last week as an LIV shot alongside four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.