Former LIV player moving on from 'only money' after contract ends

Field Level Media|published: Sat 11th January, 15:27 2025

Oct 20, 2023; Doral, Florida, USA; Eugenio Chacarra plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Disenchanted with his time spent on with LIV Golf, Spain's Eugenio Chacarra said he will move on from the upstart league now that his contract has expired, he told both Flushing It and Golf Channel Latin America.

Once the No. 2 ranked amateur in the world out of Oklahoma State, the 24-year-old was not retained by Sergio Garcia's Fireball team and would need to go through a Promotions Event in order to re-qualify for LIV participation.

Chacarra's frustration stemmed from promises he said he were made that LIV participants would ultimately be added to the Official World Golf Ranking system. He was also disappointed at not having any access to golf's major tournaments.

His only major appearance came in the 2023 U.S. Open, which he reached through local qualifiers.

"I see what it's like to win on the PGA Tour and how your life changes, how you get major access and ranking points." Chacarra said in a post on the Flushing It account on X, formerly Twitter. "On LIV, nothing changes, there is only money. It doesn't matter if you finish 30th or first, only money. I'm not a guy who wants more money. What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the majors, qualifying for the Masters, the Ryder Cup.

"When I joined LIV they promised OWGR and majors. But it didn't happen. I trusted them. ... It's frustrating, but I'm excited for the new opportunity and to see where my game takes me."

Chacarra still could be subject to a suspension by the PGA Tour of up to a year from his last LIV appearance in September. A winner of one LIV tournament, he could play on the Asian Tour or the DP World Tour in Europe in the interim, but might have to do so through sponsor's exemptions.

"This decision is what's best for me," he said about departing LIV. "I'm very thankful for what they've done, but my mind is different now and I want to get to what I was dreaming about when I was little. Because obviously LIV didn't exist when I was growing up. I was watching Tiger Woods winning on the PGA Tour and I want to do that."

--Field Level Media

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