'I lost my PGA Tour status, joined LIV Golf and it saved me from the lowest of lows'

Andy Ogletree will compete in his first full LIV Golf season this year after winning the 2023 Asian Tour International Series, but it has not always been easy for the American

Andy Ogletree has revealed being given the chance to join LIV Golf has saved his professional career, after the former US Amateur champion was unable to find a way onto the PGA Tour.

Ogletree is one of LIV's latest signings for the 2024 season, after he earned a place on the roster by winning the Asian Tour's International Series at the end of last year. This has seen him claim full playing rights with the LIV setup for the year, and a place on Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers.

Despite announcing himself as one of the world's top amateurs, it has not always been easy for the 25-year-old, after his plans to battle his way onto the PGA Tour were scuppered in 2021 due to injury.

READ MORE:Rory McIlroy hoping to learn from Masters mistake after storming into contention in Dubai

A torn labrum ensured he spent six months out of action, and after then failing to earn a Korn Ferry Tour spot upon his return, Ogletree's patience with his pro golf journey was waring thin. The LIV star told Bunkered: "It’s a time where I had to reflect and think – ‘do I really want to do this full time?’. I had a great (engineering) degree and I was seriously thinking about an alternate route.

“I didn’t have status anywhere, wasn’t getting any sponsor invites into PGA Tour or Korn Ferry events so was driving round playing Monday qualifiers. I wasn’t making any money and I really didn’t enjoy the lifestyle." Then however the youngster was given a second lease of life thanks to the emergence of LIV Golf.

Ogletree was one of the 48 players who entered the breakaway league's first ever event at Centurion in June 2022. On the course things again proved tough for the American after finishing dead last, but little did he know his journey with the rebel league was just starting.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go toThe Mirror US.

His LIV affiliations allowed him to then turn his attention to the Asian Tour's International Series, and he has not looked back since. Ogletree landed three victories in the Series in 2023, ensuring he came out on top in the Order of Merit and was promoted back to the Saudi-backed league.

“Life can change so fast in this game and one year of golf can take you to the lowest of lows to playing LIV Golf and the highest of highs,” he added. "I hope anyone out there sees the path I took and goes out of the social norm of playing the Monday qualifiers. There are so many tours in the world to go play and get better. Don’t take no for an answer.”

Ogletree is one of five new players joining the LIV setup for 2024. Following its first ever promotion event in Abu Dhabi last month, Kalle Samooja, Jinichiro Kozuma and Kieran Vincent all qualified for the breakaway circuit. As well as this LIV have lured in arguably their biggest coup yet in Masters champion Jon Rahm, who signed a deal worth a reported £450 million with the league in December.