LIV Golf rebels axed since end of 2022 including European Ryder Cup contender

21 February 2023 , 12:22

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LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman had a previous spat with renowned commentator Roger Maltbie (Image: Getty Images)

Another year of drama beckons as LIV Golf's second season kicks off later this week, with the first event of their 14-tournament campaign getting underway in Mexico on Friday.

Once again the likes of Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka will be competing to win their share of the £20.7 million prize on offer at the three-day shotgun start tournament. Along with LIV's big-name mainstays from 2022, this season will see a group of new stars compete on the breakaway circuit.

South American pairing Sebastian Munoz and Mito Pereira will make their LIV debuts when they both turn out for Team Torque at Mayokoba.

European Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters also comes in, as well as the big-hitting Dean Burmester of South Africa. New Zealand's Danny Lee and Brendan Steele of the United States will all kick off their LIV Golf careers in Mexico.

Despite adding to their roster, the Saudi-backed series' total field of 48 players has remained the same for their 2023 season. This has of course meant a number of players who competed in last October's 2022 campaign finale in Florida have been axed from the roster.

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Here is a look at six players who competed in Florida, but have lost their place ahead of this week's season opener at Mayakoba.

LIV Golf returns for its second season later this week (Getty Images)

Adrian Otaegui

One man who will not be in Mexico this week is Spanish star Adrian Otaegui. The 30-year-old made a name for himself in 2022 after competing in three of LIV Golf's opening four tournaments before controversially returning to the DP World Tour to win the Andalucia Masters.

Following his win on home soil, Otaegui then returned to the breakaway circuit for the team championship final in Florida to leave his end of season LIV earnings at £1.1 million from just four events. Four months on though, the Spanish star has been left off the roster for 2023.

What are your predictions for LIV Golf's 2023 season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Adrian Otaegui in action at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Getty Images)

All is not lost for Otaegui though. The 30-year-old has enjoyed an impressive run of form since returning back to the DP World Tour in November, and has since been tipped as a potential European pick for this year's Ryder Cup in Rome.

Hennie du Plessis

Another man wiped from the Mayakoba field who competed in last season's £41.5 million team championship final is Hennie du Plessis. Du Plessis was one of the LIV Golf's originals having competed in the inaugural event at Centurion Club last June where he swooped £1.8 million in winnings for finishing second.

In total the South African earned £3.7 million in winnings, finishing inside the top 20 of the Saudi-backed series' money list for 2022. Du Plessis will not get the chance to add to that tally this year, and has instead turned his attentions to the Asian and DP World Tour.

Hennie du Plessis finishing second in LIV Golf's maiden event last summer (Getty Images)

Wade Ormsby

The influence of CEO Greg Norman led to a number of Australians being added to the LIV roster, including Open champion Cameron Smith. One of the many Aussies who also teed it up across the 54 hole events in 2022 was Wade Ormsby.

Unlike Smith and co though, Ormsby is has been cut from the roster ahead of Friday's mega-money tournament in Mexico.

Laurie Canter

Laurie Canter has spent the majority of his career competing on the DP World Tour, but is yet to secure a win on the Wentworth-based circuit. So when an offer to join LIV Golf's riches and team up with fellow countrymen Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter was put to him, it was hard to turn down.

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Laurie Canter played all eight of LIV Golf's 2022 tournaments (Getty Images)

He featured in all eight LIV events in 2022, winning £2.4 million in the process. However the ever-present has been replaced ahead of the new campaign, having been dropped by Poulter's Majesticks team. What is next for the Englishman remains unknown, with a potential route to either the Challenge Tour or to Q-school looking like his only option of regaining a DP World Tour place.

Sadom Kaewkanjana

Another LIV star who has not received the call to head to Maykoba this week is Sadom Kaewkanjana. Like Canter, Kaewkanjana played all eight of LIV's 2022 tournaments and earned just over £1 million across the year. The Thai star will not be adding to this tally in 2023 though, after losing his LIV spot.

Phachara Khongwatmai

Kaewkanjana is not the only Thai national to be scraped off the roster for this week's trip to Mexico, with Phachara Khongwatmai also getting the cut for the 2023 kick-off. He too competed in all events in the inaugural campaign, earning a cool £1.5 million in the process. Like many others, he has too returned to the Asian Tour.

Joshua Lees