LONDON — Ian Poulter has confirmed he will leave LIV Golf and will not sign for the proposed LIV 2.0, handing the breakaway circuit another significant setback just days before a critical funding deadline. The Majesticks GC co-captain said in a lengthy Instagram statement it was a "tough decision" taken to "spend more time at home with my family, reduce international travel, focus on senior golf" next year. The announcement comes ahead of the 25 October deadline by which LIV chief executive Scott O'Neil must secure enough player commitments to unlock a $300m investment deal with BC Partners.
Poulter, 50, said he will be "forever proud" of his time with the Saudi PIF-backed tour, which he insisted was the right move at the time. "Clearly, LIV Golf has divided opinion, but to be part of the founding group that took world class golf around the globe, showcased our great game to a new audience, built a team brand in Majesticks GC, helped innovate tournament formats and establish a leading community impact program in Little Sticks, is something I will be forever proud of," he wrote.
The Englishman was one of LIV Golf's original signings in 2022 and co-captained Majesticks GC alongside Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson. The team have been among LIV's most active off the course, funding their Little Sticks initiative to encourage more children into golf. Poulter becomes the second team leader in a week to depart following Louis Oosthuizen's exit, and follows the earlier loss of Jon Rahm, leaving both the quality and quantity of players signed for 2.0 well short of expectations. LIV have said they will not comment on individual names ahead of the deadline.
Poulter's next steps point towards senior golf and a return to Europe. He paid DP World Tour fines reported to be over $1m earlier this year and could rejoin the tour in November after resigning his membership in 2023, making his first DP World Tour start in more than three years at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a few weeks ago. He remains suspended from the PGA Tour Champions until next August under the one-year ban triggered by playing his final LIV Golf event this year, but could fill his schedule with Legends Tour events in Europe and DP World Tour starts via sponsor exemptions.
Family was central to his reasoning, with Poulter keen to support sons Luke and Josh as they pursue their own golfing careers and to develop his The Postman YouTube channel. "Having spent so many years travelling the world chasing my own golfing dreams, the opportunity to now spend more time supporting my boys as they chase theirs is something that means a great deal to me," he added. His departure follows Louis Oosthuizen's exit ahead of the deadline and deepens uncertainty around LIV 2.0's ability to secure its future funding.