5 golfers sacked by LIV Golf ahead of 2023 season

LIV Golf has seemingly weaseled its way into the headlines by axing six golfers from its former line-up ahead of its opening for the 2023 season this month.

The contentious series has 14 events scheduled in top venues in seven different countries for this year, starting with the LIV Golf Mayakoba, which will take place at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Riviera Maya, Mexico, during February 24-26, 2023.

Team rosters for all 14 events have yet to be announced, but the series has announced three other stops in Australia, Singapore, and Spain. Let us take a look at five golfers that have been sacked by LIV Golf ahead of the 2023 season.

LIV Golf pros who played in last October's campaign turn their sights to other Tours

1) Adrian Otaegui

Hero Dubai Desert Classic - Day Three (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

The 30-year-old Spanish pro made a splash last year when he competed in 3 of the 4 opening tournaments of the LIV Golf Series.

He then contentiously left the series to join the DP World Tour and subsequently won the Andalusian Masters Championship in 2022.

Otaegui conveyed his joy upon winning, saying:

"I feel so happy to have my first win in Spain in front of these crowds on my favourite golf course in Spain. It's unbelievable. I'm happy with everything, the week was perfect. I just tried to play my game, tried to play as if I had just teed off being all square."

2) Hennie du Plessis

Hero Dubai Desert Classic - Day Two (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Another pro expunged from the greens at Mayakoba is the South African golfer Hennie du Plessis. He managed to achieve a colossal amount of monetary benefit despite being sacked after just three events.

He made a total of £3.7 million, ranking sixth in the most money won from the first three tournaments. However, he will not be able to add to his total this year as he did not make the cut for the 2023 season.

3) Wade Ormsby

LIV Golf Invitational - Miami - Day Two (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Wade Ormsby was part of the Australian troupe of golfers, including golfing stars like Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman, who were inundated into the contentious series through the influence of LIV Golf's CEO Greg Norman.

Ahead of the opening tournament this Friday, Ormsby has been taken off the team roster, unlike his compatriots who are still scheduled to play in the same.

4) Laurie Canter

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open - Day One (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Teaming up with compatriots Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter and receiving a mammoth amount to join LIV Golf would have been a hard offer to refuse.

This is probably why Laurie Canter quit the DP World Tour, where he played for the majority of his career, and came on board to play all eight of the newfound series' tournaments in 2022.

He will, however, not be seen on the green in Mayakoba for the upcoming opening of the season as he has been axed from the series for the 2023 season.