01 February 2023 , 10:54
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LIV Golf are yet to add a truly explosive name to their 2023 roster - but their latest addition is a PGA Tour winner who idolises Phil Mickelson.
The Saudi-backed breakaway's CEO Greg Norman has been chasing stellar signings to build momentum ahead of an expanded 14-event calendar this year.
LIV firebrand Norman poached a series of elite players in the venture's disruptive inaugural season that fractured the world of professional golf.
And Colombian star Sebastian Munoz is now set to join the likes of Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau on the mega-money invitational tour.
The Telegraph reports that LIV have snapped up world no. 90 Munoz, who claimed his sole PGA Tour victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2019.
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And the capture of Munoz holds significance for LIV as it boosts a growing list of Latin American talent to defect to the contentious enterprise.
Chile's Joaquin Niemann is already a fully-fledged LIV player, while Mito Pereira is also rumoured to be joining his compatriot in the 2023 line-up. Mexican stars Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer also star in the 54-hole events.
The cluster of Latin America's golfing flag-bearers are all set to compete in the first event of the year at Mayakoba, Mexico from February 24-26.
Norman now boasts a wealth of Latin American talent (Getty Images)Munoz's switch, however, will not be seen as catastrophic for the PGA Tour, given he struggled for consistency last year and is not a name regularly seen at the top of leaderboards.
But his defection would represent a significant blow to the International Presidents Cup side after his stunning performances in the event last year. The 30-year-old was unbeaten in his three matches in the defeat to the US and even beat Masters champion Scottie Scheffler in the singles.
The International team's LIV players are banned from the biennial joust and were already without high-profile defectors Smith and Niemann for September's showdown in North Carolina.
But Munoz's decision to ditch the PGA Tour and vacate his chance to play in future Presidents Cups could have been influenced by his golfing inspiration Mickelson.
Munoz bases his game on LIV rebel Mickelson (via Getty Images)Mickelson is perhaps recognised as LIV's chief rebel, becoming the face of the breakaway last year when joining Norman's tour and damaging his reputation with inflammatory comments thereafter.
Munoz has already revealed that he bases his game on six-time major champion 'Lefty'. "When I won on the PGA Tour, I asked myself 'what would Phil do in this circumstance, how would he take on this shot?'" Munoz has said. "I always ask myself that. Phil is my inspiration."