LIV Golf stars booted from course in shock incident during season finale week

LIV Golf star Harold Varner III and other members of his OKGC team were reportedly asked to leave Bear Slide Golf Club in Indiana after the group attempted to play as a six-some, despite being told repeatedly that groups of that size were not permitted.

The incident took place on August 18, during the week of LIV Golf's season finale in Indiana, and has now been detailed by Bear Slide GC in a social media statement addressing what it described as a recent post concerning a professional golfer being asked to leave the course.

According to the club, Varner had a foursome booked but arrived around 30 minutes late with six golfers in total. Bear Slide said it accommodated the additional players by arranging two separate three-balls, but the group questioned why they could not play together as a six-some.

The starter reportedly explained that a group of six was not permitted. 

After the group continued to ask, Varner was directed to the pro shop, where he was also told on three separate occasions that playing as a large group was against club policy, particularly with golfers behind them.

The two groups eventually teed off separately and continued that way for the opening three holes. 

However, according to Bear Slide, they joined together on the 4th hole once they were away from the clubhouse.

While it has not been confirmed that the other members of OKGC were present, Varner's LIV Golf team also features captain Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell. 

The team was previously known as Smash GC, with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka serving as its captain before leaving the team leadership role.

Bear Slide also disputed a subsequent claim that there was nobody behind the group, saying staff observed golfers waiting on the 4th tee, another group on the 3rd hole and two further groups on the 2nd hole.

The club said staff watched all six golfers tee off and putt together before asking them to leave after they had completed the 4th green. 

The players were told to return their carts and were informed that they would receive refunds but were no longer welcome at the course. 

Bear Slide stressed that nobody was told to “get the hell off the course” and said all six received refunds.

Playing in groups larger than the club's permitted size is not unusual grounds for intervention at golf courses. 

While rules vary between clubs, four-balls are the standard maximum at many courses, with larger groups generally prohibited because they can slow play and create problems for golfers following behind.

Read Bear Slide's post in full here: 

The incident comes at a significant moment for LIV Golf, with the Indiana tournament marking the league's season finale. 

LIV Golf Indianapolis was supposed to tbe the penultimate event of the season, but it became the final event after its team championship in Michigan was cancelled. 

LIV is also undergoing a major financial transition as it works to secure its future beyond 2026.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has provided more than $5 billion to LIV since the league launched in 2022, has withdrawn its funding beyond this season. LIV is understood to be working towards a new investment agreement, with BC Partners widely reported as the likely lead investor.