Report: Spanish star, 21, snubs LIV Golf's advances

Angel Ayora has confirmed he rejected the advances of LIV Golf. 

The 21-year-old Spaniard caught the eye of former Masters champion Sergio Garcia this winter as he sought the fourth member of his Fireballs quartet. 

The roster already included David Puig and Josele Ballester but the European Ryder Cup great needed to find a replacement for Abraham Ancer.

Ancer was traded to Joaquin Niemann's Torque after Mito Pereira was relegated. The Chilean has since made the decision to retire from the sport. 

Garcia tried hard to convince Ayora to jump ship but recently confirmed Luis Masaveu will join his team again. 

Masaveu, 23, joined the Fireballs last January but was replaced mid-way through the season to make way for the aforementioned Ballester. 

Ayora opened up on what appeared to be a straight-forward decision with TG ahead of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. 

"I had the chance to go there," Ayora told the publication at Emirates Golf Club. 

"I told [Garcia] it was a pleasure for me to be a part of his team, but I told him my dream is to play on the PGA Tour, so I’m going to try to keep this path.

"I want to be at the top 50 in the world and I want to play the majors and everything, so I think the right path for me is to stay here on DP and trying to get a PGA Tour card and play there.

"That's what I want to do, so I'm going to fight for that."

It wasn't the first time LIV Golf attempted to snap up Ayora. 

The breakaway tour attempted to sign Ayora in late 2024 shortly after he graduated to the DP World Tour via the developmental Challenge (now HotelPlanner Tour). 

Who is Angel Ayora?

Ayora made his way to the DP World Tour via the HotelPlanner Tour. 

His rookie campaign saw him secure six top-10 finishes from seven starts. 

He narrowly missed out on being named the rookie of the year behind Frenchman Martin Couvra. 

Last season, Ayora enjoyed another strong campaign and was very close to securing his duel member rights on the PGA Tour via the 10 card initiative. 

Ayora finished 20th in the Race to Dubai standings. 

Take a look at his golf swing here:

Not the only player to snub LIV

Ayora is not the only golfer who rejected LIV during the off-season. 

Akshay Bhatia, 23, was being pursued by Phil Mickelson as a replacement for the relegated Andy Olgetree. 

GolfChannel reported last month that the youngster, also a lefty, rejected a "lucrative offer". 

Bhatia has since agreed terms to stand in as a reserve for Tiger Woods' TGL team. 

Si Woo Kim, a former Players Championship winner, was also approached about joining the re-branded Korean Golf Club. 

Kim refused to entertain any offers and has pledged to continue his career on the PGA Tour. 

After failing to snap up Kim, LIV agreed terms with Byeong Hun An. 

An has replaced Kevin Na after the multiple PGA Tour winner's contract wasn't extended. 

Which players have LIV Golf signed?

LIV Golf's roster for the 2026 campaign is almost complete. 

England's Laurie Canter and France's Victor Perez were the first players to be recruited during the winter months. 

They have been joined by Belgium's Thomas Detry and Australia's Elvis Smylie. 

Canter joined the Majesticks whilst Perez has been added to Martin Kaymer's Cleeks outfit. 

Detry joined compatriot Thomas Pieters on the 4 Aces whilst Australia's Smylie was announced as a new member of Cameron Smith's Ripper. 

Mickelson's HyFlyers and Smash are in need of one more player. 

Talor Gooch will captain Smash in 2026 after Brooks Koepka quit LIV and was reinstated by the PGA Tour.