LIV Golf pro U-turns on retirement talk: "I'm in a really happy place in my life"

Belgium's Thomas Pieters says he likely won't retire if the LIV Golf League folds.

Pieters previously told Dan on Golf that he would have considered hanging up his clubs if the breakaway circuit ceased to exist.

The former European Ryder Cup player made the admission as he laid bare the "grim atmosphere" surrounding LIV's stop in Mexico, with uncertainty engulfing the league's future.

Players were left in the dark over whether the event would even go ahead as rumours intensified that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) had withdrawn its financial backing.

PIF confirmed in March that it was turning off the spigot, but LIV has since been handed a lifeline. 

Chief executive Scott O'Neil revealed on Wednesday the embattled circuit has secured an unnamed lead investor to help keep the tour afloat in 2027.

O'Neil added that, should the deal be finalised, it would secure LIV's future beyond 2027, although several hurdles remain before any agreement is completed.

Pieters told Garrett Johnston of Beyond the Clubhouse that he and his team have discussed his future over the past few months.

"And I'm in a really happy place in my life at the moment," Pieters said. "I love the Olympics. I would love to do one more Olympics.

"That would be, you know, 2028 and then I think we go from there."

The Belgian indicated he already has a contingency plan should LIV fail to survive, with a return to Europe on the DP World Tour his preferred option. 

Earlier in his career, Pieters explained that he didn't enjoy life on the PGA Tour.

"For me there's only one plan B, to go back and play in Europe.

"But like I said I'd rather play out here, so Europe is a great kind of fallback thing. I can go to Q School, I can play on the Challenge [HotelPlanner] Tour.

"We'll see. It's not really on my mind at this point. It's just something if LIV finishes then, yeah, we'll see what happens."

Pieters suggested many players are preparing for every eventuality while hoping the league can continue.

"Everybody's kinda looking out for themselves and I think that's the thing we've learned in golf as well over the last couple of years.

"You have to look out for yourself. And they're [Asian Tour] doing that by making an alliance there which suits them, which is great.

"Everybody's making a plan B I think at this point, but I really hope we can all stay here and play here because I think it's a great product."