Latest Ryder Cup star makes switch to Saudi-backed series

Tyrrell Hatton has officially moved to LIV Golf, joining forces with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team and making his debut this week in Mayakoba, Mexico. The world number 16, with six DP World Tour wins and a 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational title, leaves the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to become part of the Saudi-backed circuit’s first 2024 event.

Hatton, whose fiery partnership with Rahm in last year’s Ryder Cup earned the pair the nickname “Team Angry,” expressed his excitement for the new chapter: “I’m really excited to join Jon Rahm and Legion XIII.” He joins fellow newcomers Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent on the team.

This move poses challenges for European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, as Hatton remains eligible for qualification if he meets DP World Tour requirements by playing in four regular-season tournaments annually. However, participation in LIV events without proper releases could lead to fines and suspensions, as dictated by a 2022 arbitration ruling granting the DP World Tour authority to penalise players for “serious breaches” of its code.

Hatton’s shift adds further intrigue to ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which finances LIV Golf. Discussions include potential reintegration pathways for LIV players, as the December 31 deadline for formalising their Framework Agreement has been extended amidst reports of a PGA Tour deal with US-based investors, including Liverpool and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry.