Tour winner called up for last minute LIV Golf debut

A LIV Golf debut will be handed to a multiple DP World Tour winner this week after a call up at the eleventh hour.

With Charles Howell III ruled out of action at LIV Golf Houston through injury, Crushers GC have delved into the market for a replacement.

The 44-year-old has enjoyed a solid season so far, with three top-ten finishes from seven starts but won’t take his place in LIV’s first ever Texas tournament.

Instead, John Catlin will feature at the Golf Club of Houston from Friday, where six US Open champions will tee it up.

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The event represents a final chance for players to warm up before the third major of the men’s season gets underway at Pinehurst No.2 next week.

But all of Catlin’s focus will be on making his LIV Golf debut after captain Bryson DeChambeau gave him the nod.

Few players have been as in form as Catlin this season, who won consecutive events on the Asian Tour in March and April – which included a round of 59 at the International Series Macau.

It was the first sub-60 round in Asian Tour history and catapulted him to the top of the Order of Merit, as well as up to second on the International Series standings.

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The $25 million purse in Houston will be the biggest Catlin has contested in his career, whilst a $4 million winner’s check is up for grabs.

The American confirmed the news on his Instagram story on Tuesday night.

“Excited to be a @crushers_gc this week on @livgolf_league,” he wrote. “Thank you Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf.”

Recent results have been less promising for Catlin, though. He missed the cut at the Maekyung Open on the Asian Tour before failing to make the cut at the Danish Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.