Hours after Smash GC welcomed Harold Varner III into their roster, the #22 LIV Golf star opened up on his shift through an immediate release statement on Instagram.

As he left the 4Aces, the 35-year-old revealed he was in for the “new chapter” and the “new energy.”

Announcing his move to the Smash GC for the 2026 season, Varner III wrote, “I want to be clear that I was not looking to leave the 4Aces. Free agency gave me the opportunity to explore new teams and make a thoughtful decision about what comes next.”

He believed that moving out of 4Aces gave him time to think and decide upon the best move for his future in golf. Much of that decision was further based on Brooks Koepka’s departure and Talor Gooch’s new captainship role with the Smash GC. 

“It creates an environment where I can continue to push myself, grow, and compete at a high level.” 

Additionally, Varner III’s association with Michael Jordan’s brand also played a role. He has been representing Jordan’s brand since 2017. But with 4Aces joining forces with Under Armour as the club’s official apparel sponsor, things got a bit turbulent for Varner III. 

He continued, “With the 4Aces obtaining a sponsorship with a new sportswear partner, it created a situation where I had to be intentional about staying aligned with what is best for me. Jordan has invested in me, believed in me, and made sure the shoes I play in support my performance and long-term health.” 

But what about the Smash GC members? Are they happy to have Harold Varner III on board?

LIV Golf Captain Reflects on Harold Varner III’s Move

Talor Gooch, the newly minted captain of Smash GC, seemed pretty content with the new addition. Gooch and Varner already played together with the RangeGoats GC in 2023. And their compatibility is well known. 

Gooch admitted, “Adding Harold to Smash GC is a big move for us, and I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with him in 2026.” 

“He’s proven he can compete at the highest level, and as captain, I’m excited about how he strengthens our lineup and pushes our standards forward. We’re building a team that expects to contend every week, and Harold is a big part of that.”

With Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell, Varner III might just be in a pretty comfortable position. But can this comfort bring the #8 team more success this season?

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu