Oosthuizen’s LIV exit puts control of his schedule first

Louis Oosthuizen wants to decide where and how often he competes. The former Open champion said Wednesday that he will not renew with LIV Golf and plans to return to the DP World Tour in January 2027, citing the demands of travel and managing his body.

The South African announced his decision Wednesday in a statement on his own social account. It will take him away from both his playing role and the captaincy of Southern Guards GC, the all-South African team he has led during his time with LIV.

The January date is his stated plan for returning to the DP World Tour. His announcement did not name a first tournament or supply an entry list.

Travel and scheduling drive the decision

Oosthuizen explained that the travel demands of LIV’s proposed next schedule would be difficult to manage. He wants the flexibility to spend several weeks competing in one region, rather than make a long international trip for a single event, according to Reuters’ account of his comments to the South China Morning Post.

He believes he still has several competitive years ahead and wants a schedule that helps him stay sharp. His departure also comes with affection for the team format and for Southern Guards, which he described as a particularly difficult part of the decision.

The team published its own farewell Wednesday, thanking him for his leadership and wishing him well. That response supports the departure announcement; it does not establish his next tournament schedule.

A major champion seeks another opportunity

Oosthuizen won the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews and has been a runner-up in each of the other three majors. He joined LIV in 2022 and played in its inaugural event that June.

GOLF.com reported that preparing for more chances at the majors remains part of his thinking. Returning to a tour where he began playing early in his professional career offers the familiarity he is seeking, with the details of his 2027 starts still to come.

Sources

• Louis Oosthuizen: October 21 statement
• Southern Guards GC: Farewell to its captain
• Marc Strydom/Reuters, TimesLIVE: Oosthuizen confirms LIV exit
• Kevin Cunningham, GOLF.com: Oosthuizen’s farewell and future plans
• LIV Golf: Player profile and major record