At just the age of 23, Akshay Bhatia has already achieved two victories on the PGA Tour. And that spotlight urged Phil Mickelson to bring Bhatia over to his LIV Golf team, HyFlyers GC. Needless to say, the offer was lucrative.

However, Bhatia turned Mickelson’s team down. 

The approach was consistent with LIV Golf’s ongoing recruitment of younger, established PGA Tour players. But Bhatia’s rejection came at a time when the Saudi-backed league continues to face questions around team stability and internal dynamics. 

Since securing full PGA Tour status, Bhatia has strengthened his position through wins, consistent starts, and eligibility pathways tied to FedEx Cup events and major championships. Remaining on the PGA Tour preserves access to those competitive structures.

But for LIV Golf, it’s a major setback. After all, the league focused on long-term competitive depth through younger talent. But the league is losing its star power. After Brooks Koepka left the league, the captain of Iron Heads GC, Kevin Na, also stopped posting on his social media account and unfollowed the team and LIV Golf. This led to speculations running wild regarding his departure from LIV Golf. But he hasn’t personally addressed these speculations yet. 

Korean Golfers Are on a Trend of Following Tiger Woods' Suit

Back in December 2025, the talk of the town included Kim Si-woo’s potential joining of the Iron Heads GC. However, the four-time PGA Tour winner turned those rumors down, claiming that he’d continue to play in The Sony Open. A fellow Korean golfer, Lim Sung-jae, backed Kim’s stance and regarded the rumors as “fake news.”

The Korean star’s team later released a statement confirming the rejection. “It is true that Kim Si-woo, like many Korean players, has been offered a recruitment. However, Kim Si-woo finally expressed his intention to refuse and decided to remain on the PGA Tour.”

Earlier in November, LIV Golf approached Min Woo Lee, as well. But the 27-year-old stated, “I’m not going and am just going to play on the PGA Tour.” For him, the major tournaments carried more importance than a financially rewarding stance. 

Even the big names like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Hideki Matsuyama have declined lucrative offers from LIV Golf. They seemed to prioritise loyalty, legacy, and their existing partnerships and major tournament eligibility. 

Bhatia’s decision reflects a broader shift among elite players weighing legacy and competitive access over short-term payouts. For LIV Golf, attracting top young talent is proving increasingly difficult.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu