John Catlin ditches LIV Golf Chicago to play Irish Open instead

John Catlin is at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, to play in the DP World Tour's Irish Open. Catlin chose to play in this event even though it coincided with the LIV Golf Individual Championship.

As a reserve player in the league, which is financially supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, Catlin could choose to play at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Chicago. He might have gotten a place in the field in case of an injury.

However, Catlin went to Northern Ireland to take part in an event he won in 2020. That same victory at Galgorm Castle gave him a place in the field for the 2024 edition as a former champion.

The Irish Open will be played between September 12th and 15th. The field is led by local idol Rory McIlroy and fan favorite Shane Lowry.

Other top players in the field include Robert MacIntyre, who won two PGA Tour events last season, and Aaron Rai, who also won on the American circuit in 2024.

The event will also feature some players with a long and rich history in European and world golf such as Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald. Among the young players, the brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard stand out.

John Catlin will be joined by another LIV Golf reserve player, Laurie Canter. Canter has already won a DP World Tour event this year. Another former LIV Golf player, Bernd Wiesberger, will also be playing in the Irish Open.

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John Catlin's 2024 Season at a Glance

John Catlin had a busy 2024 season, playing numerous tournaments on the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Asian Tour and LIV Golf. His best results of the year were his two wins on the Asian Tour (International Series Macau and Saudi Open).

On the DP World Tour, he has played two events, with a top 10 finish in the Mauritius Open. He also played in the Open Championship where he finished in an excellent T16.

These results have placed him 138th in the world rankings. He also leads the Asian Tour's International Series by more than 140 points. If he finishes the season in first place, he will be guaranteed a spot as a member of LIV Golf in 2025.

In the Greg Norman-led league, Catlin has played five tournaments as a reserve in 2024. His best finish was a 7th place at the Nashville event apart from two other top-25 finishes. His worst finish was 37th at the Greenbrier tournament.

However, in just five tournaments, he has scored 13.28 points and is ranked 42nd in the season-long individual standings.