Akshay Bhatia has become the latest rising star to say “no thanks” to LIV Golf and its deep pockets, and in doing so, he may have just signaled a shifting tide in the simmering battle for golf’s future.
Bhatia’s Decision Marks a Turning Point for Rising Stars
According to reports, Bhatia turned down a significant offer from the Saudi-backed league just weeks before its 2026 season tees off. While the exact numbers weren’t disclosed, one can safely assume the offer wasn’t light. This isn’t LIV’s first swing at luring young talent from the PGA Tour, but in Bhatia’s case, it may have been their most ambitious whiff yet.
At just 24, Bhatia has already made himself known. Since joining the PGA Tour full-time in 2023, he’s picked up two victories and put himself in the conversation at major venues, including a T3 finish at last year’s Players Championship. A wiry left-hander with the kind of fearless game that turns heads and fills highlight reels, Bhatia is the prototype of the modern pro: stylish, skilled, and seemingly unshaken by pressure.
His decision to stay put on the PGA Tour isn’t happening in a vacuum. International names like Min Woo Lee, Sungjae Im, and Si Woo Kim also rejected LIV overtures this offseason, each making public statements reaffirming their commitment to the PGA Tour. That’s four high-profile rejections in a row for a league that, just a few years ago, could wave contracts like golden tickets.
Koepka’s Exit Leaves LIV Golf With a Leadership Void
Meanwhile, LIV isn’t just failing to add talent, it’s losing it. Brooks Koepka, one of LIV’s original headliners and its most successful player in majors, has stepped away from the circuit for 2026, citing a focus on family. While he hasn’t confirmed a return to the PGA Tour, murmurs are growing louder. With five LIV wins under his belt and the 2023 PGA Championship on his résumé, Koepka’s exit isn’t just symbolic; it’s seismic.
To fill the void, LIV has reshuffled. Talor Gooch now captains Smash GC, and Harold Varner III joins a revamped roster that includes new additions Thomas Detry and Elvis Smylie. Detry made noise with a win at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open, while Smylie, fresh off a victory at the 2024 Australian PGA Championship, represents a youthful spark.
New Faces, But No Game-Changers
Victor Perez and Laurie Canter also return to the fold, the latter opting for LIV Golf over a hard-earned PGA Tour card. But even with this influx, the narrative is clear: LIV’s momentum may be stalling. The recruitment pitch that once turned heads is now being turned down. And as more young stars like Bhatia plant their flag on Tour soil, LIV Golf finds itself facing a tougher, more resilient opponent than ever before.
The war for golf’s soul isn’t over, but this round might go to the PGA Tour.
