Laurie Canter's latest gamble: why the English golfer is ditching the PGA Tour for LIV Golf - again.
In a shocking move, 36-year-old Laurie Canter has opted out of securing a PGA Tour card and instead joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf for the second time. The decision comes after a stellar season on the DP World Tour, where Canter finished seventh in the Race to Dubai standings, good enough to earn him a spot among the top 10 players who secured a PGA Tour card.
By choosing LIV over the PGA Tour, Canter will be suspended from competing in the latter and his spot on the tour will be taken by Daniel Brown. The Englishman's decision marks a dramatic turnaround from last year, when he joined LIV Golf with high hopes of redemption after struggling to make an impact on the DP World Tour.
Canter first joined LIV in 2022, finishing 28th in the standings, and subsequently became a regular reserve player for the league before being replaced by Anthony Kim at the start of this year. With his experience in the league, Canter believes he has become a more well-rounded player and is now eager to return to LIV with the Majesticks GC team.
The decision comes as the sport grapples with a growing rift between the traditional PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Rory McIlroy recently expressed doubts over the possibility of golf being united again, citing the "irrational" spending by LIV Golf on top players.
For Canter, however, the lure of LIV's lucrative offers has been too great to resist. With his contract up soon, he is set to negotiate a significant pay rise, but it remains to be seen whether his gamble will pay off or leave him struggling to maintain his status in golf's elite ranks.
In a shocking move, 36-year-old Laurie Canter has opted out of securing a PGA Tour card and instead joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf for the second time. The decision comes after a stellar season on the DP World Tour, where Canter finished seventh in the Race to Dubai standings, good enough to earn him a spot among the top 10 players who secured a PGA Tour card.
By choosing LIV over the PGA Tour, Canter will be suspended from competing in the latter and his spot on the tour will be taken by Daniel Brown. The Englishman's decision marks a dramatic turnaround from last year, when he joined LIV Golf with high hopes of redemption after struggling to make an impact on the DP World Tour.
Canter first joined LIV in 2022, finishing 28th in the standings, and subsequently became a regular reserve player for the league before being replaced by Anthony Kim at the start of this year. With his experience in the league, Canter believes he has become a more well-rounded player and is now eager to return to LIV with the Majesticks GC team.
The decision comes as the sport grapples with a growing rift between the traditional PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Rory McIlroy recently expressed doubts over the possibility of golf being united again, citing the "irrational" spending by LIV Golf on top players.
For Canter, however, the lure of LIV's lucrative offers has been too great to resist. With his contract up soon, he is set to negotiate a significant pay rise, but it remains to be seen whether his gamble will pay off or leave him struggling to maintain his status in golf's elite ranks.