Louis Oosthuizen has made a clear break from LIV Golf, saying he will not re-sign and will instead play on the DP World Tour in 2027. For a player who has been one of the league’s most recognisable captains, it is a significant move — and one he admitted was the hardest decision of his career.
The South African announced his departure on Wednesday and told the South China Morning Post, ahead of the Link Hong Kong Open, that the feeling had been building for some time. Oosthuizen, who won the Open Championship in 2010, said he still believes he has more competitive golf left in him, but wants a schedule he can control if he is to stay sharp enough to contend in majors.
Why Oosthuizen felt it was time to move on
Oosthuizen did not hide the affection he still has for LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC. Five years ago, he said, moving away from the traditional golf world and into LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC was one of the best decisions of his life.
That makes this departure more striking. He described Southern Guards as his team and said that would never change, adding that the split does not alter how he feels about the team or the players around him. But the demands of the next LIV schedule appear to have pushed him towards a different path.
“I realized I have a lot more in me, and my biggest fear was that the schedule on LIV 2.0 would be tough to manage,” Oosthuizen said. He also explained that the only way to remain “really sharp and competitive” was through a schedule he could control.
Majors still matter to the Open Champion
For Oosthuizen, the issue is not simply where he plays next. It is whether his calendar will give him the best chance to remain a factor in the biggest events. He made that point plainly when discussing his future, saying he feels he has “a few more years of good, competitive golf left in me.”
That matters because he remains a former major champion who still wants to be in the hunt. Oosthuizen said he still works and plays to have “a sniff” of success at majors again, and that it is “pretty sweet” to still be called the Open Champion.
He also reflected on what he believes LIV achieved in South Africa, saying bringing the league there was one of the best things he has done in his career. He praised the impact it had for the people of South Africa and said he will always be grateful to PIF and LIV for what they did for him.
Another notable exit from LIV Golf
Oosthuizen’s departure adds to the sense that LIV Golf is entering a different phase. The article also notes that Jon Rahm has publicly confirmed an exit, reinforcing the idea that change is already underway.
For Oosthuizen, though, the decision appears to be personal rather than political. He said it was time to move on, and while the words were measured, the message was unmistakable: he believes his best chance to remain competitive lies elsewhere.
At 2027, the next chapter will begin on the DP World Tour. For now, Oosthuizen’s exit closes an important LIV Golf chapter for one of the league’s most established names.
