LIV has snared another golfer away from the PGA Tour.
World No. 16 Tyrrell Hatton is heading to LIV Golf for $63.5 million and will join Ryder Cup partner Jon Rahm’s new team in the Saudi-backed golf league, according to The Telegraph.
Hatton will pull out of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that he is scheduled to take part in later this week and will play in LIV’s season-opening event, which begins on Friday in Mexico, the report stated.
Hatton was still listed on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am website as one of the players participating in this year’s tournament.
The jump could present another challenge for the European Ryder Cup team depending on regulations.
LIV golfers who remain a part of the DP World Tour – which Hatton is a part of – can play in the Ryder Cup, but to be eligible they must partake in at least four DP World Tour events.
The problem arises because the DP World Tour fines and suspends any player who competes in a LIV Golf event, making it tough to fulfill the minimum requirement.
The issue could be solved as part of the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls the rebel LIV Golf league.
Talks between the once bitter rivals were pushed into the new year after they couldn’t reach an agreement by the Dec. 31 deadline set when they made the shocking merger announcement last June.
The ability to compete in the Ryder Cup and Hatton’s eligibility to compete in majors was a sticking point for the golfer and what led him to reject LIV’s first offer made last month.
A call with Rahm and an increased offer over the last few weeks ultimately pushed Hatton to make the last-minute decision to join LIV, The Telegraph reported.
Hatton has one PGA Tour win to his name, which came at the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and six victories in the DP World Tour.
Hatton, who has been ranked as high as fifth in the world, has not won a major in his career and does hold five top-10 finishes in majors.
His best finish came at the 2016 Open Championship when he had a T5 finish.