While LIV Golf is never going to be able to silence all of its doubters, it cannot be denied that the league has signed some outstanding young players over the last few years.
It would be no surprise to see the likes of David Puig, Josele Ballester, and Tom McKibbin contend in, and perhaps win, majors in the future.
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Following LIV Golf‘s signing of Michael La Sasso, Graeme McDowell took to social media to suggest that the league is providing a fantastic pathway for the best prospects.
Graeme McDowell’s claim about LIV Golf looks increasingly questionable
There is no question that LIV has to be considered a viable option for the superstars of tomorrow – particularly those who are keen to get their professional careers up and running as soon as possible.
But McDowell’s claim also alluded to how difficult it is for young players to make the grade on the PGA Tour.
McDowell’s statement may leave some fans of the PGA Tour a little concerned about how the future will look, particularly with LIV boasting several extremely talented prospects.
However, there is a very good reason to believe that the future of the PGA Tour looks incredibly healthy.
The PGA Tour production line looks incredibly healthy
The 2026 season is the first since the 2019/20 campaign to kick off with two events won by players yet to turn 30, with Chris Gotterup and Scottie Scheffler clinching the Sony Open in Hawaii and The American Express respectively.
In fact, five of the last seven PGA Tour events – discounting the Hero World Challenge – have been won by players in their 20s. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Blades Brown was in the final group on Sunday at La Quinta.
Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee, Ben Griffin, and Cameron Young were some of the other players in their 20s who won in 2025.
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Meanwhile, LIV saw five of their events last year won by someone under the age of 30.
The only problem was that all five were won by Joaquin Niemann.
In fact, there have been just five players who have won a LIV event before their 30th birthday in the league’s entire history. As well as Niemann, they are Eugenio Chacarra, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm.
Obviously, the likes of Puig and McKibbin have won on other tours in recent months. Puig, in particular, looks to be a potential superstar.
And LIV’s strategy of targeting these younger players should reap real rewards in the coming years.
However, there should surely be no doubt at all that the PGA Tour is still on top when it comes to presenting younger players with a pathway to winning notable events.
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