Tommy Fleetwood rules out move to LIV Golf after committing to ZOZO Championship

Despite several rumours, Tommy Fleetwood will not be one of the next players moving to LIV Golf. 

Andy Roberts's picture
Tue, 23 Aug 2022
Tommy Fleetwood rules out move to LIV Golf after committing to ZOZO Championship

England's Tommy Fleetwood will not be moving to the LIV Golf Tour despite a number of rumours suggesting he would be jumping ship this year.

While Fleetwood has not directly commented on the LIV Golf speculation, he has committed himself to compete in the PGA Tour's ZOZO Championship at ACCORDIA GOLF Narashino Country Club in Japan from October 13 to 16. 

Speculation was fueled further of a potential LIV Golf move for Fleetwood when his caddie Ian Finnis revealed how some DP World Tour pros "resent" their CEO Keith Pelley. 

Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler have also committed themselves to the ZOZO Championship. 

The ZOZO Championship will no doubt be hoping that home hero Hideki Matsuyama will do the same. 

It recently emerged that Matsuyama, who won the 2021 Masters, has been offered in the region of $400 million to join LIV Golf as the circuit looks to expand its Asian and Japanese presence. 

The PGA Tour are said to be doing everything in their power to keep hold of Matsuyama, who won the ZOZO Championship last year. 

It is understood by multiple sources now that "seven" PGA Tour players will be switching to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour following the conclusion of the FedEx Cup this week. 

Cameron Smith is the only certainty to move to LIV Golf after it recently emerged he has agreed to sign a huge deal with Greg Norman's circuit. 

The PGA Tour continues to suspend all members who compete in any LIV Golf tournaments. 

Fleetwood, 31, has won five times on the European Tour. He has not yet won a PGA Tour event or a major.

His last victory came at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2019.

Fleetwood has spent the last couple of weeks back home with his family in Southport after his mother sadly passed away the week after the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews last month. 

"Well done and good luck to everyone that made the FedEx[Cup] Playoffs," tweeted Fleetwood.

"I’m taking time out to be at home with my family but look forward to returning to @PGATOUR @DPWorldTour soon."

Despite comfortably qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, as a result of not playing the last two weeks Fleetwood has not made it into the final 30 for the season-ending Tour Championship this week. 

He does still hold both a PGA Tour and DP World Tour card for next season. 

Fleetwood enjoyed his best performance of the season to date with an encouraging tie for fourth at The Open. 

In the other three majors, he finished tied 14th at The Masters, fifth at the US PGA and he missed the cut at the US Open won by compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick. 

Fleetwood currently looks on from the 28th rung of the world ladder. He has been ranked as high as ninth in the Official World Golf Rankings. 

Next Page: Patrick Cantlay rules out LIV Golf move following Presidents Cup comments