Tyrrell Hatton responds to LIV Golf exit rumours after controversial song choice

Tyrrell Hatton has played down speculation that he is preparing to leave LIV Golf ahead of the 2027 season, despite major uncertainty surrounding the league’s future.

Hatton has been one of the biggest names linked with a potential exit in recent weeks, with heavy social media speculation also surrounding his Legion XIII team-mate, captain and European Ryder Cup partner Jon Rahm.

The rumours intensified at LIV’s season-ending event in Indianapolis last week, when Hatton walked out to Queen’s I Want To Break Free.

The song choice was quickly interpreted as a message that the Englishman could be ready to leave LIV Golf, but Hatton dismissed that suggestion when questioned ahead of this week’s Husqvarna British Masters on the DP World Tour. 

Asked whether anything should be read into his choice of music, Hatton simply replied: “No.”

The Englishman was similarly unwilling to confirm or deny reports about his 2027 plans, instead insisting his attention is on finishing the 2026 season strongly.

“To be honest, I haven’t thought about that,” Hatton said.

“I’ve got enough to worry about, we’re playing golf for the rest of the year.”

Hatton also revealed that he believes he still has multiple years remaining on his LIV contract.

“I’ve still got multiple years left in my contract, I believe,” he said.

“And as I said, I’ve got plenty of tournaments this year, so there’s nothing really to focus on other than the golf.”

Hatton expects LIV Golf to return in 2027

While Hatton stopped short of committing himself to LIV next season, he does expect the league to return.

“I would expect there to be LIV next season,” he said.

“I know they’ve worked really hard to get the funding and stuff in place, so I know it’s full steam ahead on that front.”

The financial landscape has changed significantly, however, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s five-year funding arrangement ending following last week’s season finale.

It is understood LIV is now working with BC Partners as its new lead investor on a proposed LIV Golf 2.0 model.

It's believed an investment in the region of $350 million will be needed to keep the league in motion. 

That is approximately the same figure the PIF agreed to sign Rahm to LIV Golf at the end of 2023. 

The revamped league is expected to feature just 10 events in 2027, with reduced prize funds compared with the levels offered during LIV’s first five seasons under PIF backing.

That could have major implications for players who joined the league partly because of its enormous purses and lucrative contracts.

Split schedules could become very difficult in 2027

Hatton currently sits 33rd in the Race to Dubai and has a busy run of DP World Tour events ahead of him, starting with this week’s British Masters at The Belfry.

He is scheduled to play the Irish Open, BMW PGA Championship, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Spanish Open, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship from now until the end of the season. 

Hatton was one of nine LIV players granted conditional release by the DP World Tour this season, allowing him to compete on both circuits without the fines and suspensions associated with conflicting events.

However, that arrangement is more than likely going to disappear in 2027.

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The DP World Tour is reportedly preparing to ditch conditional releases, meaning it could become an expensive decision for LIV players who want to maintain a split schedule between the two tours.

That could force players to make a clearer choice over their futures, particularly if LIV reduces its calendar to 10 events.

Much will depend on which LIV tournaments, should they happen, clash with DP World Tour events in 2027. 

Hatton, though, insists his commitment to European golf will not change.

“From my side, even when I joined LIV, I’ve continued to play where I can,” he said.

“I think I’ve shown that over these three years that I’m pretty committed to playing here and I’ve made every effort possible to do that. I don’t see why that should change for me in the future.”

Hatton’s LIV future remains unclear

Hatton and his Legion XIII team-mates Rahm, Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt ended LIV’s season on a high by winning the $8.4 million team prize in Indianapolis last Sunday. 

But there was little time for celebration, with Hatton rushing to catch a flight back to the UK for the British Masters.

He revealed he made his flight by just 15 minutes.

“For guys that were trying to make international flights, you didn’t really have any time to spare after the round,” Hatton explained.

“I wanted to get home to my wife and daughter and have a night in my own bed.”

However, fast forward to his Wednesday press conference, and Hatton’s latest comments to reporters at The Belfry still leave his long-term future unresolved. 

The European Ryder Cup hero believes he has multiple years left on his LIV contract and expects the league to continue, but has not explicitly committed to the new LIV Golf 2.0 model.

The futures of many LIV players are understood to be up in the air at this very moment in time, as discussions continue behind the scenes. 

Hatton's latest comments came just hours after British Masters host and six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo offered a far more pessimistic assessment of LIV’s future.

Speaking to Sky Sports Golf, Faldo claimed he has heard on the ground that a number of LIV captains are ready to walk out of the league, even if it continues. 

“I’m hearing it, you know from the back of the range that quite a bunch, more captains have said that they are done with their team,” Faldo said.

“The bottom line is more players are wanting to leave LIV than want to come to LIV right now.”

Faldo also questioned whether investors would be willing to put serious money into a reduced LIV model.

Watch Faldo's comments in full here: 

For now, however, Hatton is refusing to be drawn into the speculation.

His focus is on the DP World Tour and the remainder of his 2026 schedule.

And as for I Want To Break Free? “No,” Hatton insists there was nothing to read into it.