Major champion sparks LIV Golf chatter after late WD from WM Phoenix Open

J.J. Spaun has fuelled speculation he will join LIV Golf over the next few weeks after withdrawing from the PGA Tour's biggest party. 

Spaun, the 2025 U.S. Open Champion, was expected to participate in the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale this week. 

But on Wednesday, the PGA Tour's official communications team confirmed Spaun withdrew from the $9.6m tournament. 

No explanation was given for his absence and he has been replaced in the field by Marcelo Rozo.

There has been plenty of chatter on X that Spaun may be in talks with LIV Golf over joining Dustin Johnson on the 4 Aces as a replacement for Patrick Reed.

Reed followed Brooks Koepka out the exit door last month after failing to agree terms on a contract extension with the breakaway tour. 

The 2018 Masters champion will return to the PGA Tour in August as he is "a traditionalist at heart". 

LIV are yet to announce Reed's replacement. 

Miguel Tabuena, of the Philippines, has stepped in this week and may feature at their second stop of the new season in Adelaide. 

Would J.J. Spaun join LIV Golf?

It does seem unlikely given last week Spaun described the American circuit as the "best, most competitive tour in the world". 

But he wouldn't be the first player to surprise us if he decamped to the PIF-backed breakaway. 

Bryson DeChambeau, Johnson, Koepka, Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm all released statements or said they would not be leaving the PGA Tour. 

"I think Patrick will be a good asset to this Tour and I think it just speaks volumes to where the Tour's headed," Spaun told reporters at Torrey Pines. 

"I think to add even more competition for us that have been here while they left, and, you know, adding Brooks and Patrick now, it's just strengthening our Tour, which I think is great."

LIV Golf began their 2026 season this week under the lights in Riyadh. 

Once again, their off-season saw them fail to recruit a bona fide star. 

It is understood they targeted Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee, Akshay Bhatia, Marco Penge, Aldrich Potgieter, Angel Ayora, Max Greyserman, Ryan Gerard and Daniel Berger about potential moves. 

In the end, they signed five players, with Belgium's Thomas Detry the highest-ranked addition. 

Detry has joined Johnson's team alongside compatriot Thomas Pieters.

Victor Perez, Elvis Smylie, Laurie Canter and Ben An were the other additions.