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It’s been four years since LIV Golf officially set out on its quest to take on the PGA Tour, and it’s on the verge of kicking off what seems to have the potential to be a make-or-break season. The league recently lost one of its most notable names after Brook Koepka returned to the PGA Tour, but it has managed to land a promising up-and-comer who will be giving up the chance to compete at The Masters to join Phil Mickelson’s team.
At this point, I feel like most golf fans are familiar with the uphill battle LIV Golf has waged in its unsuccessful quest to emerge as a viable competitor to the PGA Tour.
The upstart league may have been able to convince a number of high-profile players to defect with the help of the billions of dollars that were largely funneled from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but it does not have much to show for it as it gears up for its fifth season.
Earlier this month, Brooks Koepka became the first former PGA Tour player to return to the circuit after the organization unveiled a policy that would also allow Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith to follow in his footsteps.
Every member of that trio has reaffirmed their commitment to LIV for at least one more season, but they now have a concrete pathway if they do decide to flee what seems to be a sinking ship.
However, the organization has convinced one rising star to hop aboard it, and they’ll be sacrificing what many golfers would view as the opportunity of a lifetime as a result.
NCAA champion Michael Las Sasso is skipping his final year at Ole Miss and giving up a spot at The Masters to join LIV Golf
If you don’t keep tabs on college golf, you may not be too familiar with Michael La Sasso, who kicked off his career at NC State in 2022 before transferring to Ole Miss as a sophomore.
He had a breakout year as a junior last season during a stellar campaign where he was named a First Team All-American and beat Texas A&M’s Phichaksn Maichon to be crowned the individual national champion at the tournament that was held at La Costa resort in California in May (the Rebels finished in eighth place in the team competition).
The win netted him an invite to The Masters as an amateur in 2026, but on Tuesday, La Sasso announced he’ll be forfeiting the opportunity to play at Augusta National in April after joining forces with LIV Golf as a member of Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC.
The 21-year-old cited the opportunity to leverage Lefty’s mentorship in a statement explaining his decision, saying:
“I’m incredibly excited to join HyFlyers GC and take this next step in my career. It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I don’t take that lightly.
LIV Golf allows me to compete at the highest level on a global stage, and I thrive in a team environment, especially one with the camaraderie and support that defines HyFlyers GC. My focus is on learning, continuing to improve, and doing everything I can to help our team succeed.”
LIV doesn’t release contract information to the public, but based on what Ole Miss golf coach Chris Malloy told Golf Channel, La Sasso secured a sizeable sum with a move that will also result in him forgoing his final season at the school, noting:
“For Mike, it was a decision that was, from my understanding, a little bit of a no-brainer and he needed to make financially for his future.
The timing wasn’t ideal; Mike really struggled with this. He’s a team guy, and this was not an easy decision for him.”
It’s hard to blame him for seizing on the opportunity while he still can, although you have to wonder if it will end up being worth it in the long run.