16 February 2023 , 20:20
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LIV Golf have been mocked for their failure to capture more explosive signings as Greg Norman prepares to welcome an underwhelming addition to the rebel series.
PGA Tour rookie Dean Burmester is poised to become the third player to join the Saudi-Arabian-backed breakaway ahead of an expanded 14-event calendar in 2023. Burmester is set to jump ship after just months playing on the American circuit, ahead of LIV 's season opener at Mayakoba in Mexico from February 26-28.
The 33-year-old will join Chile's Mito Pereira and Colombia's Sebastian Munoz, who have already been confirmed as new LIV recruits. And it is reported by the Times' Tom Kershaw that South African Burmester will link up with compatriot Louis Oosthuizen on the Stingers GC team for the 48-man invitational events.
World No.62 Burmester had earned his PGA Tour playing rights in the Korn Ferry Tour finals, and has made seven cuts in eight starts on the traditional circuit this season. He impressed with a 4th place finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and appeared to be building his career in the US after two previous victories on the DP World Tour.
But he is now set to ditch his PGA Tour career, with players who have defected to LIV permanently banned from the circuit. LIV CEO Norman has been targeting stellar new signings to build momentum ahead of the disruptive venture's second season, but the Australian firebrand's latest recruit has become a source of mockery for some golf fans.
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Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau were all recognised as significant coups last year in LIV's plan to establish themselves as a genuine rival to the PGA and DP World tours.
But a name of that elite calibre is yet to be added to LIV's roster before the 2023 season and many believe the addition of Burmester is a sign that the insurgent enterprise is in fact losing momentum.
"Losing a household name like Burmester is a real game - changer..... The @PGATOUR is done! one fan reacted on social media. "Man, I thought the @PGATOUR and @DPWorldTour had a chance to survive but losing [Burmester] is probably going to end that hope. RIP to 72 hole golf," another quipped.
Burmester was not the box-office LIV signing fans had anticipated (Getty Images)"Hardly box office," one user agreed. "How will the PGA Tour possibly carry on without Dean Burmester," another sarcastically posted.
Meanwhile, outspoken English pro Eddie Pepperell joked that he would be glad to see the back of big-hitting Burmester, who outdrove him on the DP World Tour.
"They can have him," Pepperell wrote. "Last time I played with him he was out driving me by 100 yards. Good riddance."