Thomas Pieters has opened up on his decision to make the move to LIV Golf, admitting he struggled to enjoy competing on the PGA Tour.
Pieters made the move to LIV for the 2023 season, having competed in two full campaigns on the breakaway league for Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats. His decision to make the switch came as a surprise to many, with Pieters still in the early stages of his career.
Those who initially opted to sign on the dotted line with the Saudi-funded circuit were more often than not closer to the end of their career than the start, however, Pieters finds himself towards the other end of the spectrum.
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Having finished a second season on the LIV roster last month, the European star has opened up on what made him make the leap in the first place. “Obviously my childhood dream was to play on the PGA Tour. I did it and I didn’t like it,” the former Ryder Cupper told LIV’s Fairway To Heaven Podcast.
He went on to admit that having then turned back to the DP World Tour, the Belgian fell into somewhat of a lull having made his Ryder Cup debut in 2016. “I came back [to the DP World Tour] and, not like I lost interest but I couldn’t feel the buzz at a regular European Tour event sometimes having played the Ryder Cup.
“I think a lot of guys that play the Ryder Cup hit a lull in their career afterward because they don’t get the same buzz anymore. That was difficult for me and I LIV was great timing… I was kind of going through the motions a couple of years ago,” Pieters then continued.
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Thomas Pieters made the move to LIV Golf in 2023 (
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“And you go to the same tournament, the same hotel, that kind of got boring to me. I’m still young but I did that for nine years and I think everybody that is in the same job for nine or 10 years, you know, you are going to ask questions.”
The pull of the LIV league for many was of course being able to play for more money whilst playing less golf, with the breakaway league operating a 14-event schedule with mega-money purses on offer at each. And like a number of his fellow players, this also helped Pieters make his decision.
Obviously, financially it was really cool, and getting to spend more time with my kids, they were probably the main reasons,” he added. “It was super exciting for me, and it still is.” Pieters ended the 2024 season 30th in the individual LIV standings, leaving him in free agency over the offseason. The former PGA Tour star did admit he is yet to hold talks with RangeGoats bosses about what comes next in 2025.
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