LIV Golf suffers huge blow as Si Woo Kim rejects the PIF-backed league yet again

LIV Golf’s efforts to land Si Woo Kim appear to have hit another dead end, with the South Korean golfer making it clear that his future remains on the PGA Tour. Despite renewed speculation linking him to the Saudi-backed league, Kim publicly shut down the rumors.

The speculation resurfaced after golf outlet Flushing It reported that LIV Golf had resumed talks to sign Kim, along with Ben A,n for the new Korean-based Becko East GC franchise ahead of the upcoming season. According to the report, both players were considered priority targets with sizeable offers believed to be on the table ahead of LIV’s opening event in Riyadh.

However this was not the first time Kim had been linked to the breakaway league. Earlier this month, on December 11, Flushing It cited Korean outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, which reported that a member of Kim’s team had already confirmed he rejected LIV Golf’s approach and chose to stay on the PGA Tour.

As the rumors gained traction again, Kim addressed the situation indirectly on Instagram. In a reply to a comment, he wrote that he was focused on “fighting my spot to get in presidents Cup.” The screenshot of his comment was later shared by Flushing It as the speculation continued.

Screenshot of Si Woo Kim's comment on Instagram shared Flushing It on X

Kim later removed any doubt by posting an Instagram story that read,

“I will be Playing on PGA Tour”

Screenshot of Si Woo Kim's Instagram story (via @siwookim_official)

LIV Golf has been adjusting its roster following the 2025 Drop Zone, which saw several players lose their spots, including Anthony Kim, Yubin Jang, Henrik Stenson and Frederik Kjettrup. Since then, the league has brought in new names, with Scott Vincent and Yosuke Asaji qualifying through the International Series Rankings while Laurie Canter and Victor Perez joined Majesticks GC and Cleeks GC.

Even with those additions, missing out on Si Woo Kim stands as another blow for LIV Golf as it continues to chase top international players.

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Why Si Woo Kim turning down LIV Golf matters for the Saudi-backed league

Si Woo Kim’s decision to stay on the PGA Tour is a setback for LIV Golf largely because of where he stands in his career. At 30, Kim remains a promising player with a strong résumé and plenty of golf still ahead of him.

Although he did not win in 2025, Kim had a solid season. He recorded five top-10 finishes worldwide including a third-place finish at the Australian Open in his most recent start. On the PGA Tour, he played 30 events and posted multiple strong finishes with a T4 at the RSM Classic standing out.

Here’s a look at Si Woo Kim’s 2025 PGA Tour results:

• The Sentry – T32 (-16)
• Sony Open in Hawaii – CUT (-2)
• The American Express – T51 (-11)
• Farmers Insurance Open – CUT (+3)
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – T12 (-13)
• WM Phoenix Open – T21 (-10)
• The Genesis Invitational – T24 (-2)
• Arnold Palmer Invitational – T19 (-1)
• THE PLAYERS Championship – T38 (-1)
• Texas Children’s Houston Open – CUT (E)
• Valero Texas Open – CUT (+1)
• RBC Heritage – T8 (-12)
• Zurich Classic of New Orleans – CUT (-6)
• THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson – T15 (-15)
• Truist Championship – T17 (-7)
• PGA Championship – T8 (-4)
• Charles Schwab Challenge – T28 (-3)
• The Memorial Tournament – T31 (+5)
• U.S. Open – T42 (+12)
• Travelers Championship – W/D (+1)
• Rocket Classic – 84 (-4)
• John Deere Classic – T11 (-15)
• Genesis Scottish Open – T34 (-4)
• The Open Championship – CUT (+3)
• 3M Open – CUT (-2)
• Wyndham Championship – CUT (-2)
• FedEx St. Jude Championship – T14 (-8)
• BMW Championship – T19 (E)
• Baycurrent Classic – T20 (-8)
• The RSM Classic – T4 (-19)

Edited by Sonali Verma