Management team of 2023 European Ryder Cup star deny LIV Golf talks

Tyrrell Hatton's management team has denied the Englishman will be the latest player to depart the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf League.

Ben Smith

11 Dec 2023

Management team of 2023 European Ryder Cup star deny LIV Golf talks

Tyrrell Hatton's camp has denied the Englishman will be the latest golfer to depart the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

The Spanish publication, TenGolf, has claimed Hatton is in negotiations to join LIV and is likely to be among the latest wave of defections.

It has been speculated the decision by reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm to join the breakaway in a £450m deal will open the floodgates.

Unsubstantiated reports have suggested Hatton would also be followed by six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau.

Finau, who lives the same U.S. state as Rahm and plays a lot of practice rounds with the Spaniard at Silverleaf, remained tight-lipped when asked about his future as he competed in the Grant Thornton Invitational.

"I haven't let anything marinate other than just playing right now," Finau told reporters after explaining he was 'happy' for his good friend Rahm.

Hatton's team have denied there was any substance to the rumours.

"There's nothing in it," a member of his management team told The Times of London, adding: "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet."

Despite the denial, it is easy to see why Hatton, 32, would be targeted.

He formed a special bond with the 29-year-old two-times major champion at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.

The duo defeated Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns 4&3 in the foursomes.

In the same format, Rahm and Hatton also beat Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 2&1.

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The latest rumours arrive at a time when the PGA Tour has narrowed its choice of potential investors to a new consortium led by Fenway Sports Group.

The North American circuit has also claimed negotiations with LIV Golf's financiers, the PIF of Saudi Arabia, will continue.

The tour's policy board, made up of six players and five independent directors, sent an email to players on Sunday to inform them Strategic Sports Group was the unanimous choice to further negotiate a potential partnership in the new, for-profit company.

That company, PGA Tour Enterprises, was at the heart of the 6 June framework agreement.

The deadline for the deal to completed is 31 December.