15 February 2023 , 19:59
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The rebel LIV series has been backed to bring fresh exposure to golf when the spotlight inevitably fades on the legendary career of Tiger Woods.
But the latest additions to the contentious Saudi-backed breakaway's roster are hardly the explosive names that will capture the imagination of golf fans as LIV firebrand Greg Norman chases stellar signings to build interest in his series.
Colombia's Sebastian Munoz and Chile's Mito Pereira have both been confirmed on the LIV roster for an expanded 14-event calendar this year. The duo, both former stars of the International Presidents Cup team, will play for the Torque GC team alongside captain Joaquin Niemann and Spaniard David Puig.
And in a boost for CEO Norman, LIV now has a monopoly of the top Latin American talent, following the defection of Mexican stars Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz to the invitational tour last year.
Munoz and Pereira also join the big name players who are committed to a second season with LIV, including Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson.
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LIV's disruptive emergence has thrown the world of professional golf into chaos with the world's players split on opposite sides of a fractious civil war. The PGA Tour has already banned LIV players, while an arbitration panel hearing will determine whether the rebels can still compete on the DP World Tour.
But in a surprising development, DP World Chief Communications Officer Danny van Otterdijk has now called for a truce with LIV, insisting the controversial new enterprise has brought fresh eyes to the sport, in spite of the chaos it has caused.
Sebastian Munoz (left) and Mito Pereira (right) are LIV's latest recruits (PGA TOUR)“I personally think that what LIV Golf has done is bring the game of golf back to the conversation," he told Golf Digest Middle East. "More people are now asking: ‘What is golf all about?’ ‘What is this new different tour platform going to do?’ Some like it, some do not, and that is fine, but at least it has people talking about golf again."
Woods, 47, remains the main draw for golf fans as he continues to dominate the agenda on his long-awaited return to tournament play at the Genesis Invitational this week.
But, two years on from the horrific car crash that threatened his ability to walk, the 15-time major champion has reiterated that his playing schedule will now only be extremely limited, as he prioritises majors and other big events before his retirement.
Woods is about to make his competitive return for the first time since the Open Championship in July (Getty Images)And Van Otterdijk believes the insurgent LIV circuit can fill the void in bringing intrigue to golf when Woods eventually calls time on his garlanded career. "I did worry that after Tiger, he is obviously not playing as much as he used to and eventually he will stop, so what is next" he added.
"Rory [McIlroy] is doing a great job in carrying the baton, but who comes next? What LIV Golf has done is bring the conversation back to golf again, and people are interested.
“We think that, like the game of cricket [embracing domestic T20 leagues] and what other sporting bodies have done, sensibility will prevail and people will talk, and integrating the schedules will prevail. That is only good for the game of golf.”