LIV Golf reportedly continued drawing over the weekend, and Matthew Wolff, Carlos Ortiz and Eugenio Chacarra are expected to join the new circuit for the event this week at Portland’s Pumpkin Ridge.
LIV Golf previously announced 45 players to its 48-man field in the second of a scheduled eight events in the series.
Wolff, 23, claimed the 2019 NCAA Championship individual title as a sophomore at Oklahoma State, turned pro in June and won the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in just his third event. Playing as a sponsor’s waiver, Wolff hit a 25-foot eagle putt from the rim on the last hole to Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa. Wolff further showed his potential by finishing fourth in the 2020 PGA Championship and shooting 65 at Winged Foot in the third round of the US Open later that year to take the 54-hole lead. He finished second to DeChambeau and rose to No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
With his unorthodox swing and charismatic presence, he looked set to become the Tour’s next breakout star. However, Wolff struggled to adjust to Tour life and took two months off golf last year as he had to deal with his mental health. Wolff missed the cut in seven of his last 12 starts this season without a single top-25 finish, and has plummeted to 77e in the world ranking. He shot 66 at the Travelers Championship on Sunday, where he made his professional debut on the PGA Tour in 2019, finishing in the T-55.
Wolff’s jump to LIV was first reported by The London Telegraph† Rumors have been circulating for weeks, particularly after his image was featured in a LIV Golf sizzle reel promoting the fledgling circuit backed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF Investment Fund.
Illustrated Sports reported that Carlos Ortiz of Mexico has decided to join LIV Golf as well. The 31-year-old Ortiz won the 2020 Houston Open. He is number 119 in the world. Last week, Mexico’s top player Abe Ancer also made the jump to LIV, giving the circuit a viable Latin American presence.
As noted on Golf week on SaturdayChacarra, the No. 2 amateur in the world, is said to have signed to LIV and plan to forgo his senior year at Oklahoma State and turn pro to compete in the 48-man field in Portland. Writing in Spanish, he noted that he was “given an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” adding, “it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime trains.”