LIV Golf team announces unexpected new signing ahead of 2026 season

Louis Oosthuizen's Stinger GC have announced a new signing that will be joining them for the 2026 LIV Golf League season, only it's not a new player.

Stinger GC teased their followers of a new signing on social media a day after Europe defeated United States at the Ryder Cup on 1 October. 

"Who could it be?" the Stinger GC social media team captioned their post.

Fans commented in their hundreds that it might be a new South African player from the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. 

Erik van Rooyen, Shaun Norris, Thirston Lawrence were all names thrown into the mix by a number of interested Stinger fans. 

Then 24 hours later the team confirmed that it wasn't even a new player coming in. 

Stinger GC confirmed on 2 October that South African rugby union legend Brian Habana, 42, has joined them as an ambassador.

Some LIV Golf fans reacted positively to the update, while others were left a bit deflated that it wasn't a new player. 

Habana, now retired from professional rugby union, played mainly as a winger during his career.

He is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport - so it's certainly a big signing in that regard for the Stingers. 

Arguably his greatest career achievement came in 2007 when he was part of the victorious South Africa side at the Rugby World Cup in France. 

Habana scored eight tries during that tournament, which equalled the record for a single tournament set by late great New Zealander Jonah Lomu in 1999.

He then went on to equal Lomu's career record of 15 tries in World Cups. 

Habana is also ranked second among all time test try scorers, with 67 tries.

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Stinger GC is currently captained by former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is also on the team, as too Dean Burmester and Branden Grace. 

Stinger GC won one title (Chicago) during the 2025 LIV Golf League season

They went on to finish third in the season-ending Team Championship, their best result since the breakaway league begun in 2022. 

Stinger had finished fourth, fifth and fifth the previous three years.

The 2026 LIV Golf League season begins under the lights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 5-7 February. 

South Africa will play host to its first ever LIV Golf League event in 2026. 

The league is headed to Steyn City in Johannesburg in March. 

LIV Golf has signed a multi-year deal with South Africa.