Professional golfer Paul Casey’s wrist injury causes him to withdraw from LIV Golf Korea with less than 24 hours to go. His sudden withdrawal leaves the defending champions scrambling for a last-minute replacement.

Crushers GC announced on X on May 27 that Australian golfer Travis Smyth is named as Casey's replacement, less than 24 hours before the event at Asiad Country Club in Busan, South Korea.

"Travis Smyth has replaced Paul Casey for LIV Golf Korea after withdrawing due to discomfort in his wrist," Crushers GC posted.

Casey is not the only notable absentee. Tyrrell Hatton withdrew after the birth of his first child, while Phil Mickelson remains out because of a family health issue. LIV Golf is also seeking new funding after the Public Investment Fund confirmed it will stop supporting the tour after this season.

This is the eighth event of the 2026 LIV Golf season and the second since the Public Investment Fund announced in late April that it would stop funding the league after this season. Since then, reports have linked LIV Golf with bankruptcy concerns and a search for new investors.

Amid all of that, Smyth’s late call-up carries extra significance. Golf media account Flushing It said on X that the Australian is playing the best golf of his career after winning The International Series Japan, moving him to second in the standings and boosting his chances of earning a LIV Golf contract for 2027.

He also won the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship, helping him win the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and secure DP World Tour status for 2027.

Bryson DeChambeau Heads Into LIV Golf Korea as Defending Champion With a Point to Prove

DeChambeau won his third LIV title at this event last year ahead of Charles Howell III and Talor Gooch. With victories in Singapore and South Africa already this season, he enters Busan second in the individual standings with 551.90 points, behind Jon Rahm’s 802.33.

The league’s financial situation hasn’t shaken him publicly.

"We were surprised that they pulled out as quickly as they did," DeChambeau said ahead of LIV Korea. "But that's okay. One door closes, another opens."

He went further when pressed on the tour’s path forward.

"I'm very optimistic with the business plan of team golf compared to other models, in my opinion," he said.

The player who wins at Asiad Country Club will receive $4 million, while the winning team will split $3 million.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav