6 hours ago
3
LIV golfer James Piot is making a sensational return to the PGA Tour this week after being demoted from the Saudi-backed breakaway.
The 26-year-old, a former US Amateur champion, has been given a sponsor exemption to take part in the Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club.
He is not the first former LIV star to cross golf's divide back to the PGA Tour. Englishman Laurie Canter qualified for the Players Championship earlier this year.
But Piot is the first rebel to re-join golf's old order by special invite.
His return comes three years after he was was approached by LIV Golf on the back of a miserable start to life on the PGA Tour.
Piot failed to make the cut in any of his first six events, including the Masters and the US Open. He was then offered the chance to join the money-spinning LIV Golf.
In his first season with LIV, Piot was part of Sergio Garcia's Fireballs team and the American finished 36th in the individual standings.
James Piot is making his return to the PGA Tour this week after being demoted from LIV Golf
The 26-year-old (R) has been given a sponsor exemption to take part in the Rocket Classic
A year later, however, he was part of Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers and finished in the drop zone. The lowest-ranked players in LIV's standings are relegated from the tour.
Piot's final LIV appearance was in October 2023 and rules stipulate that players must wait 12 months before they can play on the PGA Tour.
Since then, the 26-year-old has been scratching around on the Asian and Korn Ferry Tours. He also underwent surgery on his shoulder.
'The fact I finally get to play in the Rocket Classic, it’s a dream come true,' said Piot, a Michigan native and graduate of Michigan State.
He told The Detroit News: 'Ever since the event was created on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.'
Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley and Hideki Matsuyama are among the big names competing this week.
