LIV Golf reject receives invite to compete in PGA Tour's Rocket Classic

LIV Golf reject James Piot has received a sponsor's invite to compete in this week's Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club on the PGA Tour. 

Piot, 26, was competing in the Rocket Classic Monday qualifier before he was informed of a late sponsor's invite into his home event.

The American was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, a short 20-minute ride away from Detroit Golf Club. 

He represented Michigan State as a junior before going  on to win the 2021 US Amateur at Oakmont Country Club, which recently hosted the US Open. 

Piot played in the very first LIV Golf event at Centurion Club in July 2022.

He represented Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers and went on to finish T25 that week in England. 

Piot then played in six further LIV Golf events that season, with a best result of T6 in Bangkok. 

He remained on Mickelson's team for the duration of the 2023 season, but he would end up having a year to forget.

Piot finished 57th in the standings, which meant he was in the relegation zone.

He wasn't invited back by captain Mickelson, or signed by any other captain, and so he was booted from the league. 

Since then, he has primarily been playing over on the Asian Tour and on LIV Golf's feeder International Series. 

Piot has only played in three tournaments so far in 2025.

He finished T48 at the International Series Macau on the Asian Tour in March.

Piot then missed the cut at both the Lecom Suncoast Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour in April, and the International Series Japan in May. 

But after a series of reshuffles to the Rocket Classic field on Monday morning, Piot received a late sponsor's invite to play in his home town event. 

The PGA Tour has confirmed Piot has received an unrestricted sponsor exemption.

Piot becomes the first ex LIV Golf player since March to compete in a PGA Tour event this season.

England's Laurie Canter, who represented Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson's Majesticks GC in 2022 and 2023, was allowed to compete inThe Players Championship as a result of his performances following a return to the DP World Tour. 

Both Canter and Piot are able to compete on the PGA Tour since they did not hold full-time PGA Tour cards while they were playing on LIV Golf. 

Piot received invites to play in six PGA Tour events in 2022, including The Masters and US Open as a result of having won the 2021 US Amateur.

But the missed the cut in all six tournaments.