Tommy Fleetwood turned down LIV Golf to stay on the PGA Tour alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, but compatriot Tyrrell Hatton is now the Saudi-backed tour’s top target ahead of the 2024 season.
LIV Golf officials have set their sights on Tyrrell Hatton as the next prominent signing for the breakaway tour, following the rejections from Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard who opted to stay with the PGA Tour.
Despite facing criticism since its controversial launch, LIV Golf has managed to attract several top players with lucrative offers. However, the gap between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf widened when Jon Rahm recently made the switch to the Saudi-backed series.
As the PGA Tour and DP World Tour engage in merger negotiations with the Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf is eager to bolster its roster with more renowned names before the 2024 season commences in Mexico. According to The Telegraph, Hatton could be the next addition after Fleetwood and Hojgaard declined substantial contracts to follow in Rahm’s footsteps.
While Hatton has not yet received a formal offer, there have been discussions between him and LIV Golf, indicating that Greg Norman’s series has been actively pursuing members of Luke Donald’s Europe team since their Ryder Cup triumph in Rome four months ago.
Rory McIlroy has voiced his opinion on the matter after Rahm’s move to LIV Golf, which could potentially earn him up to £450 million. McIlroy believes that the Ryder Cup rules should be revised to allow Rahm to participate in New York. Although Rahm is technically still eligible due to his DP World Tour membership, he will likely face numerous fines and bans once he competes in the 14 LIV Golf events in 2024.
According to the current regulations, players like Hatton and other European golfers would face a similar situation if they join LIV Golf. Hatton, in particular, may have been targeted after his successful partnership with Rahm at the Ryder Cup.
LIV Golf’s strategy to attract players from the PGA Tour has been to offer exorbitant amounts of money, even when they have been rejected. Tony Finau, a prominent American golfer, came close to reaching an agreement with Rahm’s Legion XIII GC before ultimately committing to the PGA Tour, along with Fleetwood and Hojgaard.
Meanwhile, Hatton is currently competing at The Emirates Club in the Dubai Desert Classic. At the halfway point, the 32-year-old is sitting at two-under par after an impressive round of 68, which has propelled him up the leaderboard.
Cameron Young, the 25th-ranked player in the world, has taken charge with an impressive score of 64 on Friday. Despite a minor setback with a bogey on the 18th hole, Young maintains a comfortable three-shot lead at 13-under par. Meanwhile, Andy Sullivan from England and Adrian Meronk from Poland are currently tied for second place at 10-under par, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of golf.
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