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The new lineup for the 2023 season of LIV Golf has been confirmed and there are a couple of fresh faces set to join the controversial new golf tour. The most notable newbie is world number 34, Thomas Pieters who has been confirmed as a member of Range Goats GC.
Pieters has enjoyed a solid career on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and has racked up six professional wins over the course of his time as a professional. His decision to join LIV Golf may well put his Ryder Cup chance in jeopardy as he now faces an indefinite suspension from PGA Tour events for joining LIV Golf.
The Belgian has vocalised his frustrations with the tour recently and was upset at being unable to play at last week’s Genesis Invitational despite being ranked 34th in the world. The event was eventually won by Jon Rahm but Pieters would have just liked the opportunity to compete. He tweeted:
“Sad to miss my favourite tournament of the year. Because well as No 34 in the world, I couldn’t get in.”
It is unclear whether this was the straw that broke the camel’s back or if Pieters had already agreed to join LIV golf prior to this week. He will make up the Range Goats GC who are captained by two-time major champion, Bubba Watson.
Sad to miss my favorite tournament of the year. Because well as #34 in world, I just couldn’t get in @PGATOUR. 🤷🏻♂️ #GenesisInvitational
— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) February 15, 2023
The tour that isn’t going away
The fact that more and more players are defecting to LIV Golf shows that the tour isn’t a flash in the pan that will disappear any time soon. In addition to Pieters, Brendan Steele, Danny Lee and Dean Burmester have also joined.
Phil Mickelson has always been bullish about LIV Golf ever since it first appeared on the scene two years ago. Speaking at a recent news conference he commented on the “remarkable” improvements that the tour has made in the past six months and these new recruits are arguably evidence of that.
The first LIV event of the season is due to start in two days’ time at El Camaleon in Mexico and will last three days. It is the first of 14 LIV events this season, with tour organisers electing to expand on the number of events that took place in its inaugural year.
Interestingly, none of the 14 events overlaps with any of golf’s four major or the Ryder Cup. As of right now, all LIV golfers will be able to compete in the four majors this year although that could change in the future with LIV Golf events not counting towards world ranking points.
Pieters’ Ryder Cup hopes
Pieters is expected to be in contention for a spot in Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team in September. He was part of Continental Europe’s winning Hero Cup team earlier this year but will now be banking on performances in the DP World Tour to guarantee his place in the team.
However, as the DP World Tour and LIV Golf are currently engaged in a legal dispute, Pieters may find that he is unable to play in any DP World Tour events very soon. If this is the case, then he will almost certainly be banking on a captain’s pick to make the team for Rome.
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