Kevin Na, the former LIV Golf team captain, has confirmed he will not rejoin the Saudi-backed circuit, stating he is “happy to move on” despite previously enjoying his time with the league. The announcement came as Na prepares for his first competitive event since his departure, the New Zealand Open on the Asian Tour.
Na’s exit from LIV Golf was announced last month when Byeong Hun An was named the new captain of Korean Golf Club, formerly known as Iron Heads GC. The circumstances surrounding Na’s departure remain unclear, with the league not offering a specific explanation in its initial press release. Na had captained a team since LIV Golf’s inception in 2022.
Shortly after An’s appointment, the PGA Tour reinstated Na’s membership, which had been suspended when he initially joined LIV Golf in 2022. Although, the Tour also indicated that Na faces “disciplinary action for outstanding violations of the regulations,” delaying a definitive return date. Na acknowledged the situation, stating, “it’s one step at a time” when considering a potential return to the PGA Tour.
The 42-year-old Na had a lengthy and successful career on the PGA Tour, playing 458 events, earning over $37 million, and securing five tournament victories. His performance on LIV Golf was less prominent, with five top-10 finishes in 48 starts and a 44th-place finish in the 2025 season-long standings. He last played in a LIV Golf-sanctioned event, the PIF Saudi International, in November 2025.
Despite his departure from LIV, Na expressed positive sentiments about his experience with the league. “I enjoyed it,” he said to Golf Australia Magazine. “I thought it was great. It was a great product. I reckon it was a part of my life which I gave my all to while I was there.”
Na’s participation in the New Zealand Open, which offers a spot in the Open Championship to the winner, marks a return to a more traditional tournament format. He expressed a desire to recapture the excitement he felt earlier in his career. “I want to have some fun,” Na said. “I think sometimes we get caught up in performance and whatever other things are going on. I want to be that kid again.”
Alongside Na, other former LIV Golf players have had their PGA Tour memberships reinstated, including Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford, both of whom are eligible to return to PGA Tour-sanctioned competition on January 1, 2027, after completing disciplinary action. Patrick Reed has also left LIV Golf and will return to the PGA Tour later this year. Eugenio Chacarra also received a PGA Tour exemption after leaving Fireballs GC.
