The rumor mill is whirring again, but one PGA Tour star’s talks with LIV Golf have come to an end…
Twenty-four hours is a long time in golf.
With deals for Victor Perez joining Cleeks Golf Club and Laurie Canter’s return to Majesticks GC – in for the relegated Frederik Kjettrup and Henrik Stenson respectively – wrapped up, LIV Golf’s bosses have set their sights on filling more holes left from those finishing in this year’s Drop Zone.
Another of those players is Yubin Jang, who played on Kevin Na’s Iron Heads GC alongside Danny Lee and Jinichiro Kozuma but ended the season 52nd out of 54 in the standings.
And with LIV keen to base teams around a geographical identity, sources close to LIV told TG that Si Woo Kim was in “late-stage talks” with the league.
While not quite Jon Rahm levels, Kim would be a good scoop for LIV – particularly as they continue to push focus on the Asian market. He has won four times on the PGA Tour – including the Players Championship in 2017 when, somewhat ironically, Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter were runners-up – and played on three Presidents Cup teams.
The 30-year-old also made headlines at the 2023 Masters when he wore a PGA Tour-branded shirt while playing alongside Phil Mickelson.
But the move is now off.
A report from the Maeil Business Newspaper in Kim’s homeland had initially reported that, while it’s true that “like many Korean players” he had been in talks with LIV Golf, he has “expressed his intention to refuse and decided to remain on the PGA Tour”.
Kim later confirmed talks were over when he posted a photo of himself with his Sony Open trophy from two years ago on Instagram with the caption: “OK guys, see you in Hawaii.”
Like Kim, two-time PGA Tour winner Sungjae Im was also subject to speculation when the pair applied for DP World Tour membership last month, though TG has been told by a member of Im’s team that there is “zero truth” in the rumors. The Maeil added that Im’s management company said the 27-year-old is “focusing on preparing for the PGA Tour next season”.
TG has reached out to LIV Golf for comment.