Former Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen announced Wednesday that he is leaving LIV Golf and plans to return to the DP World Tour in 2027.
Oosthuizen, 44, joined LIV Golf in 2022 and served as captain of the all-South African team Southern Guards GC.
“Five years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life, moving away from the traditional golf world and into something very special with LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC,” Oosthuizen posted Wednesday on X. “I’m the biggest supporter of team golf and always will be. Golf needs more of it.”
Southern Guards consisted of Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester.
“Southern Guards is my team. It always has been and it always will be. That’s what makes this so difficult,” Oosthuizen said.
The team returned the love on social media.
“Thank you for the memories, Cappie,” Southern Guards wrote on X. “For your leadership, the laughs and the moments we’ll never forget! It’s been a privilege to share this chapter with you. All the best in your future endeavors. You’ll always be part of the team. Go Rhinos.”
Oosthuizen said a more flexible playing schedule will go a long way toward allowing him to compete at a high level.
“I realized 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.”
Statement:
Louis Oosthuizen has confirmed that he will not re-sign with LIV Golf for its next chapter, choosing instead to return to the DP World Tour in January 2027 in what he describes as the hardest decision of his professional career.
The 2010 Open Champion will step away from his playing role and captaincy at Southern Guards GC, the all-South African team he has led since LIV Golf’s inception and one that remains deeply personal to him.
"Five years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life, moving away from the traditional golf world and into something very special with LIV Golf and Southern Guards GC," said Oosthuizen.
"I’m the biggest supporter of team golf and always will be. Golf needs more of it."Despite his strong belief in the team format, Oosthuizen believes a more flexible playing schedule will give him the best opportunity to compete at the level he still expects of himself.
"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 explained."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."
For Oosthuizen, the decision has been particularly difficult because of his connection to Southern Guards GC, his teammates and the people who have helped build the team.
"Southern Guards is my team. It always has been and it always will be. That’s what makes this so difficult," he said.
"This is probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career, but I have to do what I believe is right for my golf. It doesn’t change how I feel about the team or the guys."
The all-South African team has been a significant part of Oosthuizen’s career over the past five seasons, bringing him together with longtime friends Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester.
One of the defining moments of that journey came in March 2026 when LIV Golf made its historic South African debut at Steyn City, where Southern Guards GC finished second in front of their home supporters, the team’s best result of the season.
Oosthuizen has previously described bringing LIV Golf to South Africa as one of the proudest achievements of his career.
"Bringing LIV Golf to South Africa was one of the best things I’ve done in my career. It was for the people of South Africa, and I think it was a great success. That’s the best thing that came out of this year."
Reflecting on his time with the league, Oosthuizen expressed his gratitude to those who made the journey possible.
"I’ll always be grateful to PIF and LIV for what they did for me. I made new friends and got even closer to my current friends and family," he said.While Oosthuizen’s immediate focus will be on returning to individual competition on the DP World Tour, he emphasised that Southern Guards GC will always hold a special place in his heart.
Oosthuizen’s next competitive appearance will be at the 65th Link Hong Kong Open, taking place from 22–25 October 2026 at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
He will then turn his attention to preparing for the 2027 season, with his return to the DP World Tour scheduled for January.
— Louis Oosthuizen (@Louis57TM) October 21, 2026
Oosthuizen won the 2010 Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, and has finished as a runner-up at least once in each of the other three majors. He has 11 victories on the DP World Tour.
LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 8. The league is hoping to launch LIV Golf 2.0 in 2027.
Oosthuizen’s departure is the latest loss from the league’s talent pool.
Last week, Spanish superstar and three-time LIV Golf individual season champion Jon Rahm reached a separation agreement with LIV Golf and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters announced plans to play on the DP World Tour.
They join other notable names who are not returning to LIV Golf as it attempts to restructure without financing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. That list also includes Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer, David Puig and Adrian Meronk.
ESPN reported that two-time U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau remains committed to LIV Golf, however.
–Field Level Media
