Former LIV Golf player Andy Ogletree believes the Saudi-funded series has 'benefited everybody' in professional golf, despite being personally cut from the LIV roster last summer.
Ogletree made a name for himself after being crowned US Amateur champion in 2019 at Pinehurst, and was tipped for stardom on the PGA Tour. Three years on from his win, the American opted for a different route instead, which came after he controversially signed up with Greg Norman and co at LIV Golf.
The 24-year-old featured in the breakaway circuit's opening event at Centurion last summer, but finished dead-last after shooting 24-over-par across the three rounds in St Albans.
And Ogletree felt the repercussions of his tough week, after being cut from the LIV roster after just one event. This was most definitely not the plan for the US Amateur champion, especially with his Saudi switch costing him a chance to gain membership on the PGA Tour.
It seems LIV gained much more traction than first thought, and one man who felt the brunt of that was Ogletree. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport , he said: " The hopes were to play a lot more [on the LIV Golf circuit].
"But I think they just had a lot more traction, and having to turn players away and I ended up having to be one of them." Despite his LIV Golf snub, Ogletree has seemingly pledged his backing behind the breakaway circuit amid its ongoing tussle at the top of professional golf with the PGA Tour.
In response to the LIV threat, the Tour has introduced a whole host of changes including increased prize funds, and financial guarantees in a bid to keep players onside. Its most contentious change yet was announced just last week, after commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed the Tour were introducing a number of no-cut, limited-field events - which earned heavy comparisons to their LIV rivals.
Whilst many have been quick to slam the Saudi-funded series, Ogletree believes the formation of LIV has benefited both sides of golf's civil war. "These changes were not going to be made without pressures on the top tour," the 24-year-old commented.
"The Money [to fund the PGA Tour's changes] has been found. I don't know if that is a coincidence or not but everybody is definitely benefitting from LIV Golf." To many, Ogletree's one-event switch left the youngster at a cross-roads in what was supposed to be the beginning of big professional career.
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He appeared to have pathway into the PGA Tour, and had seemingly been left in the lurch by Norman and his team. This proved not to be the case though. Since then Ogletree has plied his trade on the Asian Tour - thanks to its partnership with LIV - and has enjoyed plenty of success.
Five months on from his rock-bottom finish in Hertfordshire, the American had his hands on his first professional title having won the International Series Egypt crown out on the Asian circuit. He has since gone from strength-to-strength in 2023, winning a second Asian Tour title in Qatar last month which has cemented his spot at the top of the International Series' Order of Merit.
Targeting the end of year crown, Ogletree said: " I think first and foremost my plan is to win the Order of Merit here on the International Series." And this no doubt comes with added incentive, with a spot on the 2024 LIV roster up for grabs for the winner.
