Brendan Steele Joins LIV Golf After Initially Resisting League

Back in December, professional golfer Brendan Steele was adamant that he was not interested in joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.^[0] He even went as far as to tell players, “don’t expect to come back and play on our tour.” But just 10 weeks later, the 39-year-old Steele has apparently changed his mind and will be joining LIV Golf alongside Thomas Pieters and Danny Lee in time for their season-opening event in Mexico from Feb. 24-26.^[1]

Since 2011, Steele has been a part of the PGA Tour and has won three tournaments throughout that time.^[0] He is currently 122nd in the Official World Golf Rankings, and in the 2021-22 season in which he made 15 cuts and missed eight cuts, Steele made just over $2.5 million.^[2] Since the beginning of January, he has made the cut in three out of the four tournaments he has participated in; however, he withdrew just before the Genesis Invitational commenced, thus not being part of the field.^[2]

Pieters, from Belgium, is ranked No. 34 in the Official World Golf Ranking and is the highest-ranked addition to the tour.^[3] He has been a longtime star on the DP World Tour, recording six wins and finishing 10th overall in the series last year.^[4] Lee from New Zealand is ranked 259th, and Steele is ranked 122nd.^[5]

Pieters recently voiced his disappointment at missing out on qualification for this year’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, despite currently sitting at World No.34.^[6] He tweeted his frustration stating: “Sad to miss my favorite tournament of the year. Because well as #34 in world, I just couldn’t get in @PGATOUR. #GenesisInvitational.”^[7]

Steele cautioned golfers who have switched to LIV that they should not anticipate being able to return to the tour, while additionally commenting on the rift it has created among the players.^[8] He said, “The guy has one of the biggest egos in golf, and as the PGA Tour creates ever-increasing buzz with its elevated events and even the state-sanctioned TGL, Koepka has to feel like he’s on the outside looking in.”^[9]

Monday is when LIV Golf will make known the trio's inclusion, with four other team rosters being made known prior to the commencement of the new season on Feb. 24.^[10]

0. “Brendan Steele defects to LIV Golf weeks after not showing interest in joining Saudi-backed tour” Fox News, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brendan-steele-defects-liv-golf-weeks-not-showing-interest-joining-saudi-backed-tour

1. “Golfer joins LIV Golf after insisting he wouldn’t” The Comeback, 20 Feb. 2023, https://thecomeback.com/golf/brendan-steele-liv-golf-pga-tour-defect-comments.html

2. “Brendan Steele's reported leap from PGA Tour to LIV Golf is reversal from December comments” Yahoo Sports, 19 Feb. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/brendan-steeles-reported-leap-pga-135256159.html

3. “Three more PGA Tour competitors join LIV Golf” The Comeback, 19 Feb. 2023, https://thecomeback.com/golf/liv-golf-thomas-pieters-brendan-steele-danny-lee.html

4. “Report: Thomas Pieters, Danny Lee, Brendan Steele Join LIV Golf Ahead of 2023 Season” Bleacher Report, 18 Feb. 2023, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10066084-report-thomas-pieters-danny-lee-brendan-steele-join-liv-golf-ahead-of-2023-season

5. “Reports: LIV Golf adds 3 more to growing roster” Sportsnaut, 18 Feb. 2023, https://sportsnaut.com/reports-liv-golf-adds-3-more-to-growing-roster

6. “Strategic Alliance Criticised As World No.34 Pieters Misses Out On Riviera” Golf Monthly, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/strategic-alliance-criticised-as-world-no34-pieters-misses-out-on-riviera

7. “Days After Voicing Frustration Against the PGA Tour, LIV Golf Succeeds in Poaching Unsettled Star as Fans Predict ‘Early Retirement’” EssentiallySports, 18 Feb. 2023, https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-days-after-voicing-frustration-against-the-pga-tour-liv-golf-succeeds-in-poaching-unsettled-star-as-fans-predict-early-retirement

8. “Brendan Steele makes a stunning U-turn to join LIV despite not being interested a few weeks ago” Sportskeeda, 19 Feb. 2023, https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/brendan-steele-makes-stunning-u-turn-join-liv-despite-interested-weeks-ago

9. “BREAKING: LIV Golf Signs Another Top-50 Golfer” Golficity, 18 Feb. 2023, https://golficity.com/breaking-liv-signs-another-top-50-golfer/

10. “Look: Another Top Golfer Has Reportedly Joined LIV Golf” msnNOW, 18 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/look-another-top-golfer-has-reportedly-joined-liv-golf/ar-AA17EuPv