On Tuesday, HyFlyers GC revealed the signing of Michael La Sasso, the current NCAA Division I men’s individual national champion. With this move, LIV Golf’s offseason appears to be wrapped up, especially after Harold Varner III joined Smash GC. This is a fitting moment to review the league’s offseason signings and its overall talent landscape.
LIV has received criticism for what many deem an underwhelming offseason regarding talent acquisition. In recent years, there have been speculations about big-name players contemplating a switch to the league, resulting in a few sign-ons. However, this offseason saw no major names joining. Instead, the most notable event was the early departure of five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who left before completing his contract due to his eagerness to leave Smash GC for a return to the PGA Tour.
Despite the lackluster offseason that failed to instill confidence in LIV’s direction, the league has managed to cultivate a strong group of young talent over the past few years. David Puig, 24, claimed victory at the Australian PGA in November, marking him as one of the top players under 25 globally. It’s not surprising to anticipate Puig becoming a top-20 player within the next year. Additionally, 23-year-old Tom McKibbin triumphed at the Hong Kong Open in November and is showing promising development. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Josele Ballester, the 2024 U.S. Amateur champion, has been making strides with three consecutive top-10 finishes in the Asian Tour and DP World Tour to conclude 2025. Caleb Surratt, 21, recently turned pro after leaving Tennessee, and has shown upward momentum in the last several months. Luis Masaveu, 23, should not be overlooked either, as we await his progress.
With the signings of Elvis Smylie, 23, and La Sasso, 21, LIV boasts an impressive roster of under-25 players. The league has invested in a promising collection of young talent, with potential for some to reach elite status.
At the higher end of the LIV lineup, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Patrick Reed, and Carlos Ortiz are all capable of competing in the toughest golfing environments. These six players achieved nine top-10 finishes across 22 major championship appearances in 2025, while no other LIV player secured a top-10 result.
Currently, LIV is home to five to eight elite players alongside a promising group of young talents. However, the depth of the roster significantly declines thereafter. Finishing T-12 in LIV is not particularly commendable, yet winning requires outperforming a few genuinely skilled competitors.
Notable Comments from the LIV Offseason
While the LIV offseason may not have brought high-profile signings, several remarks from players and CEO Scott O’Neil were noteworthy.
On LIV’s role as the leading global golf entity
“LIV is clearly at the top of the pyramid of golf outside the U.S. We are the world’s golf league.” –Scott O’Neil
On LIV’s interactions with the DP World Tour
“The DP World Tour, we’ve had some friction with them a bit, and it’s been a bit costly financially for us…” –Scott O’Neil
On LIV’s strategy concerning national opens
“What you’ll see over the next several years is the remaking and reshaping of the International Series into a national open strategy… Expect four to six coming in this year and eventually 10 to 12 of the biggest national opens becoming part of the International Series.” –Scott O’Neil
On the competitiveness of the PGA Tour
“To be honest, it’s the best tour in the world. You know, I could see myself playing there at some point again.” –Patrick Reed
On the need for change
“Things have got to change. Things have got to improve.” –Bryson DeChambeau
That’s it for this week! Have feedback or topics you’d like covered? Feel free to email me: [email protected].
