LIV Golf players axed after the inaugural event: Where are they now?

When the 48-man-field for the first LIV Golf Invitational was finally released after weeks of ambiguity and controversy, the world of golf was buzzing with excitement and concern – not just because of Dustin Johnson’s shock inclusion, but because of the many unknowns Greg Norman had been forced to lure in…

Since then, LIV’s field has continued to chop and change with various big names defecting to the league. Stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka were reeled in for LIV’s second event in Portland – meaning multiple lesser knowns became one-event wonders as they departed the series as quickly as they entered it.

So, what exactly happened to the LIV golfers who teed up at Centurion, only to never be seen again in the breakaway league? Let’s get stuck in…

Oliver Bekker

The South African Picked up $800,000 for finishing T6 at Centurion before returning to the DP World Tour. Bekker’s first event after LIV London was the BMW International Open, where he finished T98. He finished T16 in the Irish Open a week later, earning a little north of 80 grand.

Bekker was then part of the conglomerate of players banned for three tournaments and fined by the European circuit for their participation in LIV’s inaugural event.

Ratchanon Chantananuwat

The youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event at just 15 years old, Chantananuwat was invited to play at Centurion by Greg Norman and eventually finished T38.

However, not tempted by the allure of the LIV’s big bucks – just yet, anyway – Chantananuwat moved on after LIV London to fulfil his ‘amateur bucket list’ – beginning with an appearance in the Amateur Championship a week later.

Oliver Fisher

Like his namesake Mr Bekker, Oliver Fisher returned to the DP World Tour after a picking up $140,000 for a T38 finish at Centurion. The Englishman’s first appearance after LIV London was then the BMW International Open, where he missed the cut.

Pablo Larrazabal

A surprise inclusion at Centurion given his ever-presence on the DP World Tour, the Spaniard finished T13 at Centurion, picking up $360,000. Larrazabal then returned to the European circuit for the BMW International Open, finishing T5 for another $85,000. He was then banned from the Scottish Open, before rocking up to St Andrews for The Open where he missed the cut. Some month.

Viraj Madappa

One of several Asian Tour players who earned a place at Centurion after finishing well at the International Series event at Slaley Hall, Madappa finished T30 in St Albans, cashing in on $156,000 before returning to Asia to compete on his parent tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India.

Andy Ogletree

Poor Andy Ogletree will forever go down as the last place finisher at LIV Golf’s first ever event. The 2019 US Amateur winner, who collected that cheque for $120,000 despite finishing 24-over-par, was immediately axed by the breakaway league to make way for the likes of Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Ogletree was last seen on the mini tour circuit along with some other LIVers.

JC Ritchie

Another one who seems to have faded to obscurity after LIV’s opener, JC Ritchie finished T17 at Centurion and took home $232,000. But just like Ogletree, the South African has hardly been seen since, having not competed on the DP World Tour since the Porsche Open in early June.

Blake Windred

Blake Windred managed a T38 finish in St Albans which earned him $140,000. After that, it was back to the Challenge Tour for the Australian, teeing it up in the Euram Bank Open where he missed the cut.

Kevin Yuan

Another player who also qualified via the Asian Tour’s International Series, Kevin Yuan finished T33 and picked up $150,000, but he’ll now likely never be seen again in Norman’s breakaway league. The World No 1,113 returned to Asia one week after Centurion, missing the cut in the Korean Open.

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