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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
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Joshua Lees & Darragh Culhane

The 17 players already axed by LIV and the staggering money they all made

LIV golf is back against this week with players competing in Thailand as the series headed to Bangkok.

The controversial Saudi backed league made waves this year as it poached a number of star players and has disrupted the PGA Tour.

The 48 man field has changed a lot since its inaugural event in London with a number of big names joining since then.

Some of the top names in golf have ditched the PGA Tour including Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson and as new faces came into the league, some had to say goodbye.

Here are the LIV golfers that were here for a good time and not a long time.

David Puig

(Getty Images)

Just three weeks ago one of the game's hottest prospects David Puig was one of the most talked about names in golf, after giving up college golf at Arizona State to turn professional and sign on the dotted line with the Saudi-backed series. Puig was 'welcomed to the family' by LIV boss Greg Norman, but just one event later the youngster finds himself on the sidelines in Bangkok.

Hennie du Plessis

One of LIV Golf's inaugural playing members Hennie du Plessis will also not be in Thailand this week. The South African came agonisingly close to becoming the series' first ever winner when putting in an impressive performance at Centurion to finish second and take home a cool €2.15 million.

Since then du Plessis has appeared at both the Bedminster and Portland events, but has now been axed from the playing quota less than four months on from his second place finish in St Albans.

Oliver Bekker

Another LIV Golf original who has been cut from the field is Oliver Bekker. Like his fellow South African du Plessis, Bekker competed at the breakaway circuit's opening event at Centurion and put in an impressive performance by finishing in a tie for sixth, taking home €810,000 in prize money.

Remarkably though, that has been that for the 37-year-old having not been included in a LIV field again since his top 10 finish. This comes despite being ahead of the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell in the season standings who have played all five events, and are in the field this week.

Justin Harding

(Getty Images)

Sticking with South Africans, another star who's LIV career has proven to be cut short so far is Justin Harding. Like Bekker and du Plessis, he has more than held his own when competing on the circuit, finishing 11th at Centurion, ninth in Portland and 21st at Bedminster, earning €1.36 million in the process.

Despite this, like his fellow countryman, it has not been enough for him to keep a solid spot in the 48-man field.

Pablo Larrazabal

Next on the list is Spanish star Pablo Larrazabal. Larrazabal is another one of LIV's originals that teed it up at the inaugural event in St Albans, but has since not made an appearance. The Spaniard managed an impressive tied-13th finish on his only outing but still managed to take home an impressive €360,000 for his efforts.

Larrazabal later revealed that one appearance is all he would make on the controversial breakaway circuit, after insisting he 'never had any contract with LIV' and was 'never a LIV player'.

JC Ritchie

Another one event wonder - and South African - on the LIV roster is JC Ritchie. Across his three-day LIV career Ritchie managed a respectable tied-17th finish at the inaugural tournament in England, and took home €234,000 for his short stay on the circuit.

Blake Windred

Whilst Cameron Smith is now leading the away for Australia on the Saudi-backed circuit, one of the first LIV members to descend from down under is Blake Windred. The Aussie competed in the opening event in Hertfordshire and won a healthy €140,000.

Oliver Fisher

(Getty Images)

Oliver Fisher is another who has enjoyed just one week out on the breakaway circuit. Fisher - who became the first man to shoot 59 on the DP World Tour - managed to match Windred's finish at Centurion, also tying in 38th and winning €140,000.

Andy Ogletree

The man who was LIV Golf's first dead-last finisher is Andy Ogletree. The American - who won the US Amateur title in 2019 - finished in last place when competing in the opening event in June, but still managed to take home €120,000.

Defending his LIV move to Fire Pit Collective, Ogletree admitted that prior to making his Saudi series switch he was 'simply going to run out of money' whilst trying to forge a career.

Travis Smyth

Travis Smyth earned a spot on the LIV Golf Series after finished second in the International Series England. Smyth lasted a little longer than some of his fellow axed players, competing in the first three tournaments before his cutting prior to the circuit's trip to Boston.

Smyth more than made the most of his short say on the Saudi-funded series, winning €830,000 across his three appearances.

Ian Snyman

Another man who reaped the financial benefit of a short LIV Golf stay is Ian Snyman. Snyman earned €322,000 across two events in London and Portland, before being cut from the field ahead of the series' third event at Bedminster.

Viraj Madappa

Despite being one of Asia's stars to make the move to LIV Golf, India's Viraj Madappa will not be there for the series' first trip to his home continent. Madappa competed in St Albans in June are raked in a tidy €151,000 after finishing in a tie for 30th.

The creation of LIV Golf seemed to be a huge boost for the sport in Asia, with Norman expressing a keen intent to work in unison with the Asian Tour. Despite this like Madappa, there are four more stars who are missing out on the chance to appear in LIV's debut in their home continent in Kevin Yuan, Jinichiro Kozuma, Yuki Inamori and Ratchanon Chantananuwat .

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