Louis Oosthuizen Exits LIV Golf for 2027 DP World Tour Return

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner, announced Wednesday he is leaving LIV Golf to return to the DP World Tour in 2027.

Louis Oosthuizen, the 44-year-old captain of Southern Guards GC, announced Wednesday his departure from LIV Golf to return to the DP World Tour for the 2027 season. The 2010 Open Championship winner, who holds 11 victories on the European circuit, stated that the move allows him to maintain a schedule he can control to remain competitive. Oosthuizen has been a member of the breakaway league since its inception in June 2022.

The announcement follows a Sept. 8 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by LIV Golf. A U.S. bankruptcy court judge recently permitted the league to reject several player contracts, including Oosthuizen’s, as part of a restructuring effort. While Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew funding that previously exceeded $5 billion, the league has secured a potential $300 million investment from BC Partners, starting with a $4 million loan to maintain operations.

Oosthuizen joins a growing list of departures including Jon Rahm, Charles Howell III, Thomas Pieters, David Puig, Abraham Ancer, and Adrian Meronk. Other players, such as Sergio Garcia and Cameron Smith, have petitioned the bankruptcy court to terminate their contracts. Conversely, Bryson DeChambeau remains committed to the league's transition to "LIV 2.0."

Golfers face a Sunday deadline to commit to the 2027 season, though BC Partners may extend that window. DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings noted that the circuit will not offer conditional status to players joining LIV 2.0. Athletes intending to play on the European tour next season must apply for membership by Nov. 16.