LIV Golf Pro Declines Contract Extension From Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC Team
Carloz Ortiz is on the move after rejecting the chance to remain on Sergio Garcia's LIV Golf team
Phase two of the LIV Golf offseason is now into swing after teams and players began making decisions on their future for the 2024 LIV Golf League.
The offseason so far has seen a number of players re-sign with their teams, while plenty of line-ups are in need of extra players after pros were relegated, became free agents or, in one case, declined a contract extension.
One player who turned down a contract extension was Carlos Ortiz. The Mexican, one of Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC members, declined a deal to remain on the Spaniard's quartet. Ortiz, winner of the 2020 Houston Open, finished 15th in the LIV Golf standings this year so was entitled to a contract extension - although he clearly sees his future elsewhere.
The Fireballs' two other players, Abraham Ancer and Eugenio Chacarra, both have contracts with the team for at least one more season.
It remains to be seen where he goes from here, with eight of the 12 teams currently featuring openings. One likely destination for him could be Torque GC, which is captained by Joaquin Niemann.
The side currently has room for one more, alongside Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz. The Spanish-speaking team seems a likely destination for Ortiz, with Torque's fourth and final spot currently open due to Spaniard David Puig being a free agent.
It appears that Puig will be on the move, with LIV Golf saying that "Niemann will look to add one player via free agency or the draft."
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The Free agency phase of LIV's offseason ends once there are just four spots remaining on the teams. That's because there will be four new players qualifying for the league in 2024 - one of whom is Andy Ogletree who earned his spot via the International Series Order of Merit. The other three will be decided at the LIV Golf Promotions event next month in Abu Dhabi. The three players will be drafted onto teams after the three-day, four-round event.
A mid-season transfer window is also planned for the 2024 LIV Golf League so there may well be more moves to come.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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