A successful year, but a different long-term goal
Australian golfer Lucas Herbert has explained why he decided not to continue with LIV Golf. Speaking to the Tee It Up Golf Podcast, in remarks reported on 2 November 2026, he emphasised improving his game, playing regularly and giving himself opportunities to contend in major championships. This was an explanation of a departure already announced earlier, not a second exit.
Herbert's 2026 season included two individual LIV victories and a tie for sixth at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He said the opportunity to compete in a major mattered more to his career plans than simply securing another contract.
His concern about the proposed schedule
According to Herbert, the version of LIV Golf 2.0 discussed with players appeared to involve roughly ten core tournaments. Extra events had been mentioned, but he was uncertain about how those starts would work, the fields they could attract and the venues available. His concise assessment was: “Ten events is not enough to build a season around.”
He compared that possibility with approximately 20 events a year over the preceding seasons, a volume he felt suited his own competitive rhythm. He also acknowledged a balance between quantity and the quality of preparation. His preference should not be read as a universal prescription for every professional golfer.
Ten events was Herbert's description of a proposal, not confirmation of a final 2027 LIV schedule. Equally, leaving LIV does not itself grant entry to major championships: each major has its own qualification and exemption criteria.
What he said about money and the majors
Herbert did not deny the importance of financial incentives in professional golf, but he said money was not the decisive factor in this particular decision. His stated priority is a schedule that allows him to improve and pursue competitive opportunities at the majors.
He is looking towards a more conventional tournament programme, including a possible return to the DP World Tour. His actual tournament entries and eligibility will depend on the applicable tour rules and event criteria.
The distinction matters: reports in October established that Herbert was leaving LIV, while the podcast provided his fuller account of why. His explanation is a first-person perspective, not an independently verified prediction about the future of LIV Golf.
Original interview context: Tee It Up Golf Podcast. Remarks cross-checked against: Josh Schrock, GOLF.com, 2 November 2026: https://golf.com/news/lucas-herbert-liv-golf-quit-reason/
