- Louis Oosthuizen confirmed he will not re-sign with LIV Golf for its next phase, stepping away from both his playing role and captaincy
- The 2010 Open champion described the move as the hardest decision he has had to make in his professional career
- Oosthuizen's first competitive appearance after his announcement is scheduled for late October 2026 in Hong Kong
Louis Oosthuizen has announced his departure from LIV Golf, confirming he will not commit to the league's next phase and will instead rejoin the DP World Tour from January 2027.
Source: Getty Images
The 2010 Open champion simultaneously relinquished his captaincy of Southern Guards GC, the all-South African LIV team he has led since the league's founding. Oosthuizen described the choice as the most difficult of his career, citing the deep personal significance of the team he helped build.
Oosthuizen explains his reasons for leaving
Speaking on his departure, Oosthuizen said he had spent five years in what he called "something very special" with LIV Golf, adding that he remains a committed advocate for team golf. However, concerns about the demands of LIV Golf's restructured schedule ultimately shaped his thinking.
"I realised I have a lot more in me, and my biggest fear was that the schedule on LIV 2.0 would be tough to manage," he said.
"I feel I have a few more years of good, competitive golf left in me, and the only way to be really sharp and competitive is through a schedule I control."
His time with Southern Guards GC brought him alongside longtime friends and fellow South Africans Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester over five seasons. In March 2026, the team finished second at LIV Golf's historic debut on South African soil at Steyn City, which Oosthuizen has cited as one of the proudest achievements of his career.
Read the statement below on X.
Southern Guards GC farewells its captain
Despite his exit, Oosthuizen was clear that his loyalty to Southern Guards GC has not faded. The team acknowledged his departure on social media, thanking Oosthuizen for his leadership and describing it as a privilege to have shared the chapter with him.
Oosthuizen first competed on the DP World Tour in 2004, two years after turning professional in 2002. He said he looks forward to revisiting courses he has not played in some time.
His immediate next competitive engagement is the 65th Link Hong Kong Open, running from 22 to 25 October 2026 at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, before his formal DP World Tour return begins in January 2027.
How SA’s billionaire is shaping golf and sport
Briefly News previously reported that Johann Rupert, one of South Africa’s richest individuals with a net worth of $14.3 billion, wields influence that extends far beyond business into politics and international diplomacy.
As chairman of Richemont, the luxury goods conglomerate, he has leveraged his immense financial resources and strategic vision to elevate South African sport, transforming local golf into a globally recognised sport.
Source: Briefly News
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