Thomas Pieters and Charles Howell III depart LIV Golf, eyeing DP World Tour

According to Kevin Cunningham at GOLF.com, Thomas Pieters and Charles Howell III have become the latest professionals to leave LIV Golf. Amidst ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy hearings and a recent ban imposed by the DP World Tour on LIV players for the 2027 season, the exodus of talent has accelerated. The news regarding Pieters was first reported by Flushing It Golf, while Josh A. Carpenter of Sports Business Journal subsequently confirmed the departure of Charles Howell III. Both players are reportedly seeking to secure starts on the DP World Tour next year. Their positions regarding the European circuit differ significantly: Pieters holds deep ties to the DP World Tour with six career victories, including the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Conversely, Howell III spent the vast majority of his career on the PGA Tour and currently sits 510th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Without full tour status, Howell would rely on tournament invites, a prospect that has drawn public criticism from DP World Tour regular Joost Luiten. These departures follow the exits of Jon Rahm, David Puig, Abraham Ancer, and Adrian Meronk. Furthermore, court documents from this week revealed that LIV Golf has rejected the existing contracts of 19 players, including Bryson DeChambeau, effectively allowing them to negotiate with other tours ahead of a potential 'LIV 2.0' launch.