LIV Golf’s offseason just went from underwhelming to disastrous.
They have failed to attract any of the superstar names to their cause. Gone are the days of the blockbuster move, like when Jon Rahm jumped ship from the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
Instead, LIV appeared to have landed some South Korean stars, hoping to bolster its foothold in Asia. Si Woo Kim was in late-stage negotiations with LIV, and Sungjae Im was set to join him. It was a strategy that made sense, even if it lacked the earth-shattering effect of the signings of days past.
Then disaster struck. Im denied the rumours of his LIV move on Instagram, and reports from Korean media outlet Maeil Business Newspaper say that Kim has pulled out of negotiations. That means LIV’s only signings of the offseason are Laurie Canter and Victor Perez.
Combine that with reports that Brooks Koepka is looking for a way back to the PGA Tour, and this has been by far LIV Golf’s worst offseason since its inception in 2022. And its fans are furious.
LIV Golf fans react to Si Woo Kim rejection
Part of the frustration for LIV fans was that reports of Kim’s LIV move emerged before the deal was finalized, only to quickly dematerialize. One fan suggested that once the news leaked, people managed to convince Kim not to leave the PGA Tour.
They posted to X: “The ‘invisible hand’ has been hard at work once again!… Maybe, just maybe, LIV Golf should keep tight lips on their deals before they are use for leverage in other negotiations, all the while giving a heads up to those “invisible hands” to get involved and break those deals.
“Loose lips about some big and important deals has been a LIV Golf problem since its inception. I wonder what that ‘invisible hand’ is offering Si Woo Kim in return?”
LIV Golf switched to a 72-hole format, moving away from the 54-hole format that had defined its previous identity. Many thought this would help LIV recruit players as it aims to become eligible for Official World Golf Ranking points, but some LIV fans think it was a costly error.
The year is 2030… How do you think LIV Golf will look and who will be their biggest star?
One fan said, “With LIV Golf swinging and missing on players, moronically ditching its 54 hole identity, and getting on its knees for OWGR, you can’t help but think this is the worst offseason the league has had at this point.”
Another added: “We heading toward a dissapointing off season potentially. My worrys are growing. 1. Go to 72 holes lame . 2. no owgr yet 3. no big signings. Panic is setting in haha.”
Other fans speculated if this is the beginning of the end for LIV Golf, saying, “It ends within 5 years man. There is 0 doubt LIV folds now, just a matter of when. They’re on a slow death march at this point”.
Another fan agreed, adding: “Hey @livgolf_league, Maybe let’s put all this time and resources into pickleball. I think you’d love the casual scene and audience. It’s time you exit the golf scene. Thanks!”
Why Si Woo Kim rejection spells serious troubles for LIV Golf
Attempting to sign Kim, among other South Korean players, was an intelligent move from LIV as it became clear that the big names on the PGA Tour would not be switching sides. But the outcome of the negotiations is an ominous sign for the tour’s future.
LIV has an event in Korea and hoped to flesh out its Ironhead GC team, which featured three Korean-born players in 2025. Attempting to sign Kim was the right move as LIV pivots to become a truly global tour.
Apart from Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which three players can the PGA Tour simply not afford to lose to LIV?
But their inability to sign the four-time PGA Tour winner, who would have been their biggest signing of the offseason without a doubt, is truly concerning. If they can’t bring in players of his calibre, then it is truly impossible for LIV to strategize with it’s recruitment.
The tour will have to simply cross its fingers and pray players want to move over, which means any hope they had of being able to target players for different audiences, as they tried to do with Kim, are surely crushed.
If LIV’s biggest signing of the offseason is Canter, who just earned his PGA Tour card, then there’s little hope on the horizon for the tour.
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