2x PGA Tour Winner Akshay Bhatia Reportedly Rejects Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf and Joins Tiger Woods’ TGL Team

According to reports from Golf Channel, Akshay Bhatia turned down a lucrative offer from LIV Golf and stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.

2x PGA Tour Winner Akshay Bhatia Reportedly Rejects Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf and Joins Tiger Woods’ TGL Team

Phil Mickelson, Akshay Bhatia and Tiger Woods (Image via Newsweek/PGA Tour)

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LIV Golf has suffered another major setback. On Tuesday, reports emerged that 2-time PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia rejected a lucrative offer from LIV Golf to join Phil Mickelson‘s HyFlyers GC and then joined Tiger Woods‘ TGL team.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed league is set to undergo a massive change this season. The league will adapt to the traditional 72-hole format and play 4 rounds. They are also trying to add some new names to the circuit as they prepare for their 5th season.

According to reports from Golf Channel, the 23-year-old turned down a huge deal to join LIV Golf and remained loyal to the PGA Tour. As per insider Tom Hobbs, the deal would have seen him join Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC.

This setback comes just a few days after 5-time major champion Brooks Koepka left the circuit. The former World No.1 was one of the high-profile names who had left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf on an enormous contract.

Just a few hours after this report, the American international was announced as the alternate member of Tiger Woods’ TGL team, Jupiter Links GC. With Woods expected to miss the start of the season due to his health issues, Bhatia will be available as an alternate player and can take his place in the team.

This development also took place after LIV Golf added two new players. According to The Times, World No. 57 Thomas Detry and 2024 BMW PGA Australian PGA Championship winner Elvis Smylie are set to become the newest members of the Saudi-funded tour.

Detry will join Dustin Johnson‘s 4Aces GC, while Smylie will join the Rippers GC. Additionally, Harold Varner III will be traded to the Smash GC and replace the departed Koepka as their 4th member.

PGA Tour star lauds Akshay Bhatia for rejecting LIV Golf offer

In their aim to make their league better, the LIV Golf tried to sign Akshay Bhatia. The young golfer however, turned down their huge money offer and decided to stick with the PGA Tour. A Tour member would later laud him for this.

Akshay Bhatia
Akshay Bhatia (Image via PGA Tour)

In the past, several PGA Tour members have given up their membership to join LIV Golf on a cushy contract. While speaking about the financial aspects of such contracts, 1-time PGA Tour winner Michael Kim lauded Bhatia for turning them down and said it was cool to see young guys do this.

It’s very cool seeing younger guys say no to the upfront money to chase more career goals. I obviously understand it from the other side as well but it’s one thing to talk about it, another to say no to a big check that’s right in front of you.

Michael Kim said regarding Akshay Bhatia on X

Earlier in the offseason, LIV Golf tried to sign Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im. However, their pursuit of them fell short as both stars rejected them.

With Bhatia also saying no to them, it will be interesting to see who the league targets next. Speaking of them, their 5th season will kick off on February 4 when they tee off at LIV Golf Riyadh.

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