Akshay Bhatia’s decision to turn down a lucrative offer from LIV Golf underscores the league’s continued difficulty in landing top-tier talent as questions around its television traction persist.
Multiple sources confirmed to GolfChannel.com that Bhatia declined the Saudi-backed circuit’s proposal, a significant setback for a league that has not secured a truly marquee signing in more than two years. The two-time PGA Tour winner has reached the Tour Championship in each of the past two seasons and ended 2025 ranked 46th in the world. Had he joined, Bhatia would have been LIV Golf’s most high-profile addition since Jon Rahm defected from the PGA Tour in December 2023.
Instead, LIV’s most recent signings have come further down the world rankings. Victor Perez joined in November at No. 122, followed by Laurie Canter in December after earning PGA Tour status via the DP World Tour; Canter was ranked 63rd at the time of his move. While solid professionals, neither move shifted the competitive or commercial needle for a league still searching for relevance with fans and broadcasters.
Rahm, who was ranked third in the world when he joined LIV, remains the circuit’s last blockbuster acquisition. Since then, LIV has struggled to attract players who can move TV ratings or command sustained attention, a challenge compounded by fragmented broadcast distribution and modest viewership numbers compared to the PGA Tour.
Bhatia’s rejection also comes at an awkward moment for LIV Golf following December reports that Brooks Koepka had “amicably” parted ways with the league, further thinning its roster of household names.
With its new season set to begin next month in Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf continues to chase legitimacy and audience growth—goals made more difficult each time a rising star like Bhatia chooses to stay away.
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