A former LIV Golf competitor has criticized the golf circuit for what he said were unfulfilled promises and potential after three years with the Saudi-backed rebel league.
Eugenio Chacarra, a 24-year-old Spanish golfer, was persuaded to join the tour backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
He signed a three-year contract to join LIV instead of heading to the Korn Ferry Tour after being the No. 2 amateur in the world in 2022.
But now he appears to have buyer’s remorse after being dropped from Sergio Garcia’s team – Fireballs GC.
“When I came to LIV, they promised OWGR and majors,” Chacarra told Tom Hobbs, who goes by the name Flushing It on X.
‘But it didn’t happen. I trusted them. I was the first young man, then the others came after I made the decision. But OWGR and majors still haven’t happened.
Former LIV Golf star Eugenio Chacarra destroyed the competition after being dropped from it
Chacarra says ‘nothing changes’ after winning on LIV tour and that ‘there is only money’
“I saw you last year when they withdrew the offer. It’s frustrating, but I’m excited for the new opportunity and to see where my playing takes me.
“I see what it’s like to win on the PGA Tour and how it changes your life. How to get key entry and ranking points. Nothing changes about LIV, there is only money.
‘It doesn’t matter whether you’re thirtieth or first, it’s just about money. I’m not someone who wants more money. What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the Majors, qualifying for the Masters, the Ryder Cup.”
On the LIV tour, Chacarra recorded a victory at LIV Golf Bangkok in October 2022, but had not won any events since.
That led to him being dropped and not signed. Spanish amateur golfer Luis Masaveu took his place, joining Garcia alongside compatriot David Puig and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer.
Chacarra now hopes to jump to the PGA Tour. However, he will have to wait for that opportunity as the PGA Tour still has a one-year ban on any golfer who has competed in LIV events.
The young Spaniard compared himself to a young European golfer: the Swede Ludvig Aberg.
“I’m a winner and I’ve never been treated like one,” Chacarra said. “On the PGA Tour, Ludvig Aberg has one win and I have one win on LIV.
Chacarra won a LIV Golf event in Thailand in 2022 but has not won since. He remains the only youngster to win on the circuit, but was dropped from Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs rankings.
Chacarra compared his career to Swedish youngster and rising PGA Tour star Ludvig Aberg
Chacarra hopes to play on the PGA Tour, but faces a one-year ban for his LIV Golf participation
“He has one win on the European Tour and I have one win on the International Series on the Asian Tour. So we have similar careers, but he has a lot more experience and plays a lot more major tournaments, but we have the same wins.
‘We performed similarly. Whatever tours I can play on, I have won. Same with him. But he is the number six player in the world and everyone talks about him.
‘But at LIV I’m the only young man who won, and they never talk about me. They always talk about the same guys. I don’t blame them, they probably know more, but they don’t really care about the young guys.
‘So this decision is the best for me. I am very grateful for what they did, but my thoughts are different now and I want to achieve what I dreamed of when I was little. Because LIV clearly didn’t exist when I was growing up. I watched Tiger Woods win on the PGA Tour, and I want to do that too.”
Chacarra told Flushing It that he plans to compete in the International Series India later this month and is hoping for some sponsor invitations to join the DP World Tour.