A LIV Golf player has been disqualified from a major championship qualifier after walking off the course mid-round, raising questions about professionalism and commitment in the controversial breakaway league.
The incident occurred during a qualifying event for one of golf’s major championships—an opportunity that many aspiring professionals consider career-defining. However, for the unnamed LIV golfer, the opportunity ended abruptly after they voluntarily left the course before completing their round, resulting in an automatic disqualification under tournament rules.
Tournament officials confirmed that the golfer walked off without notifying the proper authorities or providing a valid reason, which is in violation of the rules of golf and tournament conduct. According to standard regulations, a player must complete the round unless they are physically unable to continue or receive approval to withdraw.
While LIV Golf has attracted several high-profile names with lucrative contracts and a more relaxed tournament atmosphere, incidents like this reignite criticism from traditional golf fans and officials who believe the league lacks the competitive integrity of the PGA Tour and other long-established bodies.
The disqualification has not only dashed the player’s hopes of competing in the upcoming major but also sparked broader debate about LIV’s influence on the sport. Critics argue that the enormous guaranteed payouts offered by the Saudi-backed league may be diminishing player motivation, especially when it comes to external competitions that don’t offer the same financial incentives.
So far, neither the player involved nor LIV Golf has publicly addressed the situation. However, insiders suggest it may lead to renewed scrutiny from major organizers who already face the challenge of determining eligibility for LIV players—many of whom do not earn world ranking points due to the league’s current status.
As golf continues to grapple with the divide between LIV and traditional tours, moments like this only add fuel to the fire, forcing fans and officials to ask: is the spirit of the game being lost in the chase for big money?
