LIV Golf Exodus: Poulter and Hatton Leave as the League Fights to Survive

The golf world is watching LIV Golf fight for its future. On Friday, Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton announced they will not be part of LIV Golf 2.0, the latest names in a growing exodus from the breakaway league.

How LIV Got Here

LIV's troubles began when Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund pulled its funding. On September 8, the league voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Since then:

• A U.S. bankruptcy judge allowed LIV to reject certain golfers' contracts, including those of Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, freeing those players to look for other deals.
• LIV secured a potential $300 million investment from BC Partners, but the deal reportedly depends on keeping enough players.
• Chief executive Scott O'Neil set October 25 as the deadline for players to commit. That date had already been pushed back by two weeks.

LIV's latest court filings have also offered the clearest picture yet of how much the league spent to compete with the PGA Tour.

Poulter and Hatton Say Goodbye

Both players announced their decisions on Instagram. Poulter said he wants more time at home, less international travel and a focus on senior golf. Hatton said he is excited for his next chapter.

Who's Gone

The list of departures is long and includes some of LIV's biggest names:

• Jon Rahm
• Louis Oosthuizen, who is returning to the European tour
• Branden Grace
• Lucas Herbert
• Charles Howell III
• Abraham Ancer
• David Puig
• Thomas Pieters

Who's Staying

As of the latest reports, only a handful had publicly committed: Richard Bland, Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele and Ben Campbell. The most important name is Bryson DeChambeau, who ESPN reported "remains committed" to the league. LIV's relaunch likely depends on keeping him.

What Happens Next

Sunday's deadline will decide whether LIV can field a credible roster and close its funding deal. Expect a flood of announcements over the weekend as players choose between LIV 2.0, the PGA Tour, the European tour or, in Poulter's case, the senior circuit.

Tiger Watch

There was also good news for golf fans this week: a TV analyst predicted Tiger Woods will return to competition soon, saying "Tiger wants to play."

Follow every development in our golf coverage. For more on how other series are reshaping themselves, see IndyCar's new 2027 schedule.

Related reading: what LIV means for the 2027 Ryder Cup.