La Sasso joins LIV, forfeits Masters invite
Argentina's Pulcini nabs Masters spot as oldest LAAC winner in Peru playoff
Michael La Sasso joins Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers team on LIV Golf (Brock Brewer/LIV Golf)
Some golfers are built with the internal drive to prove themselves against the greatest players in the world. Others would rather take a guaranteed paycheck from employers and see if they can justify it.
Michael La Sasso chose the easy way out and cashed in — giving up a Masters spot he may never get back in the process.
La Sasso, the reigning NCAA individual champion from Mississippi, forfeited his tee time at Augusta National in April to sign a contract to join Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers Golf Club team on LIV Golf. He’s the latest young player to go straight from college to the Saudi Arabian league without testing himself in one of the world’s merit-based tours where you have to earn status instead of being hired with a contract.
“I’m incredibly excited to join HyFlyers GC and take this next step in my career,” said La Sasso. “It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I don’t take that lightly. LIV Golf allows me to compete at the highest level on a global stage, and I thrive in a team environment, especially one with the camaraderie and support that defines HyFlyers GC. My focus is on learning, continuing to improve, and doing everything I can to help our team succeed.”
Unable to land any marquee players from the PGA Tour since poaching Jon Rahm at the end of 2023, LIV Golf has increasing turned toward collecting young talents straight out of the amateur ranks such as Caleb Surratt, Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu. In 2022 as a startup, LIV signed promising Spaniards Eugenio Lopez Chacarro and David Puig fresh out of U.S. colleges. Other young players to choose the LIV route after already embarking on their professional careers include Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, American Andy Ogletree and Australian Elvis Smylie.
The trend sparked an interesting social media exchange Tuesday between LIV veteran Graeme McDowell and the PGA Tour’s Michael Kim.
“Hot take but LIV is a legitimate pathway for young potential superstars who can get paid to be mentored in their young careers by tour greats and play a guaranteed schedule,” tweeted McDowell. “The road to the PGA Tour is increasingly perilous and littered with great talent that never made it.
“There will always be guys that don’t get it done. I think it’s early days but would reference Puig and Chacarra, to name just a couple, as examples of talent that has flourished in the environment and kicked on. Clearly Chacarra exited but has benefited greatly.”
Countered Kim to McDowell’s original post: “I don’t disagree but the (PGA Tour) is one of the purest meritocracies in sports and if you’re good enough, you’ll end up playing on tour. If you never made it … you just weren’t good enough.”
La Sasso won the NCAA title last summer and ranked No. 13 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He ranked third in the PGA Tour University standings and was in line to hold some status (at least Korn Ferry Tour) at the end of his senior season at Ole Miss.
Instead, he’ll leave his 10th-ranked college golf program ahead of its postseason — a familiar theme this year at Mississippi after its football coach Lane Kiffin bolted early to take the job at LSU before the Rebels advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
La Sasso will join Mickelson, Brendon Steele and Cameron Tringale on a HyFlyers team that has yet to win a LIV team event.
“Michael is one of the most exciting young players in the game today, bringing a competitive fire that’s evident every time he tees it up,” said Mickelson, the 55-year-old captain. “He combines tremendous power and speed with an exceptional feel for the game. Beyond his talent, his personality, work ethic and commitment to being a great teammate make him a terrific addition to HyFlyers GC. We’re excited to support his development, accelerate his learning curve, and help him achieve his goals — while he, in turn, makes our team even stronger.”
La Sasso ranked third in PGA Tour University standings before joining LIV (Brock Brewer/LIV Golf)
Said Peter Davis, the general manager of the HyFlyers: “He’s shown tremendous discipline, consistency and poise under pressure, and we believe his transition to the professional game will be a natural one. Michael values the team environment and recognizes he has an exceptional opportunity to learn and grow with Phil’s mentorship, as well as Brendan and Cameron’s experience and shared commitment to elevating the entire team.”
La Sasso will make his LIV Golf debut at the opening event of the 2026 LIV Golf season, Feb. 4-7 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.
He’s the latest in a string of amateurs qualified for the Masters to turn professional and give up their spot at Augusta National — something that used to be a rarity. Last year, British Amateur champion Jacob Skov Olesen of Denmark and Asia-Pacific Amateur winner Wenyi Ding of China forfeited their spots in the 2025 Masters by gaining their cards to play on the DP World Tour. The year before, 2023 NCAA champion Fred Bondi of Brazil gave up his 2024 Masters invite to turn professional while reining U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap went to the Masters as a PGA Tour winner instead after taking up his tour card after winning the 2024 American Express as an amateur.
Mateo Pulcini’s playoff win over Venezuelan Virgilio Paz Valdes makes him oldest LAAC champ. (Courtesy LAAC)
Pulcini punches his majors ticket
An Argentinian won the Latin America Amateur Championship and a spot in the 2026 Masters, but it wasn’t either of the Argentinians anyone expected when the final round started.
Mateo Pulcini, 25, chased down faltering fellow countrymen Segundo Oliva Pinto and Andy Schonbaum with a Sunday 2-under 68 at Lima Golf Club in Peru to reach a playoff with Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz Valdes, who also shot 68 to finish at 5-under.
Pulcini won with a two-putt par on the second playoff hole when Paz Valdes overshot the green on the par-4 18th with his approach and went in the trees. After Paz Valdes failed to hole a 25-footer to save par, Pulcini two-putted from the front edge to win the 11th installment of the Latin America Am after finishing top-10 in his pervious two LAAC starts. Ranked No. 174 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Pulcini is the oldest champion in the 11-year history of the LAAC and the third champion from Argentina (Abel Gallegos in 2020 and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira in 2023).
“Unbelievable — having this opportunity to play this tournament and then of course to win it, it’s something that I just imagine before coming here,” said Pulcini, a former Arkansas golfer. “So, that was my thought every night before sleep and yesterday I was thinking I was 3 up on 18, different than I imagined but the same result.”
With the victory, Pulcini secured spots the Masters, U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and British Open at Royal Birkdale.
“I know it’s a good tournament and everyone wants to play it,” Pulcini said of the Masters. “But Mateo played it, he was pro, I played with him a bunch and he told me some stories about the Masters when he played, how crazy the slopes are, and then my coach, his dad, he went and told me, the sleeps.
“Shinnecock, I’m scared. I’m scared of the rough. Try to have fun as always. Royal Birkdale, I’ve never played it. It’s something I’m really looking forward. People told me it’s different and cool. So excited to experience that.”
Mateo Pulcini is excited and ‘scared’ for all the major opportunities ahead in 2026. (Courtesy LAAC)
Pinto, the 54-hole leader, faded with a three-over 73 to finish fifth three shots out of the playoff. Schonbaum, who led each of the first two rounds and started Sunday just one behind Pinto, fell back with a four-over 74 to finish T7.
Tomas Restrepo of Colombia and Erich Fortlage of Paraguay tied for third at 3-under. Pulcini notched five birdies and three bogeys in a final round.
The 21-year-old Paz Valdes, trying to become the first LAAC winner from Venezuela, made four birdies along with two bogeys. The Missouri senior recorded two top-15 finishes in his four previous LAAC appearances. As runner-up, Paz Valdes receives an exemption into final qualifying for the Open, U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur as well as an exemption into the British Amateur.
“Congratulations to Mateo, he played really well,” Paz Valdes said. “This is golf and that’s how things go. I learned a lot and I’ll get ready for next year.”
The 2027 Latin America Amateur will be played next January at Mayakoba’s El Camaleón course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
2026 Masters Field
Through Jan. 20, 2026
Here’s how the 86 players currently qualified to play in the 2026 Masters got into the field
# first-timers (22); * amateurs (6); Americans (46); Internationals (40); Seniors (7)
Ludvig Åberg (13, 18, 25) – Sweden
Akshay Bhatia (18, 25)
Keegan Bradley (17, 18, 25)
#Michael Brennan (25)
#Jacob Bridgeman (18)
Sam Burns (18, 25)
Angel Cabrera (1) – Argentina
Brian Campbell (17)
Patrick Cantlay (18, 25)
Wyndham Clark (2, 25) – through 2028
Corey Conners (13, 18, 25) – Canada
Fred Couples (1)
Jason Day (13) – Australia
Bryson DeChambeau (2, 13, 25) – through 2029
Harris English (13, 15, 16, 18, 25)
#Ethan Fang* (8)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (2, 25) – England – through 2027
Tommy Fleetwood (17, 18, 25) – England
Ryan Fox (17, 25) – New Zealand
Sergio Garcia (1) – Spain
#Ryan Gerard (25)
#Chris Gotterup (15, 17, 18, 19, 25)
#Max Greyserman (25)
#Ben Griffin (17, 18, 25)
#Harry Hall (18) – England
Brian Harman (3, 18, 25) – through 2028
Tyrrell Hatton (14, 25) -- England
Russell Henley (18, 25)
#Jackson Herrington* (7-B)
#Brandon Holtz* (11)
Rasmus Højgaard (25) – Denmark
Max Homa (13)
Viktor Hovland (14, 18, 25) -- Norway
#Mason Howell* (7-A)
Sungjae Im (13, 18, 25) – South Korea
Dustin Johnson (1)
Zach Johnson (1, 13)
#Naoyuki Kataoka (21) -- Japan
#John Keefer (25)
Kurt Kitayama (17, 25)
Michael Kim (25)
Si Woo Kim (25) – South Korea
Brooks Koepka (4) – through 2028
#Fifa Laopakdee* (9) – Thailand
Min Woo Lee (25) – Australia
Haotong Li (15) – (China)
Shane Lowry (18, 25) – Ireland
Robert MacIntyre (14, 18, 25) – Scotland
Hideki Matsuyama (1, 17, 18, 25) – Japan
Rory McIlroy (1, 5, 18, 25) – Northern Ireland
#Tom McKibbin (22) – Northern Ireland
Maverick McNealy (18, 25)
Phil Mickelson (1, 4)
Collin Morikawa (3, 4, 18, 25) – through 2026
#Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (23, 25) – Denmark
Alex Noren (25) – Sweden
#Andrew Novak (18, 25)
José María Olazábal (1) – Spain
Carlos Ortiz (14) – Mexico
#Marco Penge (20, 25) – England
Aldrich Potgieter (17) – South Africa
#Mateo Pulcini* (10) – Argentina
Jon Rahm (1, 2) – Spain
Aaron Rai (25) – England
Patrick Reed (1, 13, 25)
#Kristoffer Reitan (25) – Norway
Davis Riley (16)
Justin Rose (13, 17, 18, 25) – England
Xander Schauffele (3, 4, 13, 25) – through 2029
Scottie Scheffler (1, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17, 18, 25)
Charl Schwartzel (1) – South Africa
Adam Scott (1) – Australia
Vijay Singh (1) – Fiji
Cameron Smith (3) – Australia – through 2027
J.J. Spaun (2, 18, 25) – through 2030
Jordan Spieth (1)
#Samuel Stevens (25)
Sepp Straka (17, 18, 25) – Austria
Nick Taylor (18) – Canada
Justin Thomas (4, 18, 25) – through 2027
#Sami Valimaki (25) – Finland
Bubba Watson (1)
Mike Weir (1) – Canada
Danny Willett (1) – England
Tiger Woods (1)
Cameron Young (14, 17, 18, 25)
CATEGORY 1: Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
CATEGORY 2: U.S. Open champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
CATEGORY 3: British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
CATEGORY 4: PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
CATEGORY 5: The Players Championship Winners (3 years)
CATEGORY 6: Current Olympic Gold Medalist
CATEGORY 7A & 7B: Current U.S. Amateur champion (A, Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and runner-up (B)
CATEGORY 8: Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
CATEGORY 9: Current Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion
CATEGORY 10: Current Latin America Amateur Champion (TBD Jan. 15-18, 2026 at Lima Golf Club)
CATEGORY 11: Current U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion
CATEGORY 12: Current NCAA Individual Champion
CATEGORY 13: First 12 players (including ties) in previous year’s Masters
CATEGORY 14: First 4 players (including ties) in previous year’s U.S. Open
CATEGORY 15: First 4 players (including ties) in previous year’s British Open
CATEGORY 16: First 4 players (including ties) in previous year’s PGA Championship
CATEGORY 17: Individual winners from previous Masters to current Masters of non-opposite PGA Tour events that award a full FedEx Cup point allocation toward the Tour Championship
CATEGORY 18: Eligible qualifiers for previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship
CATEGORY 19: Current Scottish Open champion
CATEGORY 20: Current Spanish Open champion
CATEGORY 21: Current Japan Open champion
CATEGORY 22: Current Hong Kong Open champion
CATEGORY 23: Current Australian Open champion (TBD Dec. 4-7, 2025 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club)
CATEGORY 24: Current South African Open champion (TBD Feb. 2026 at Stellenbosch Golf Club)
CATEGORY 25: Top 50 on final Official World Golf Ranking for previous calendar year
Daniel Berger (25)
Thomas Detry (25) – Belgium
#Max Greyserman (25)
Rasmus Højgaard (25) – Denmark
Billy Horschel (25)
#John Keefer (25)
Michael Kim (25)
Min Woo Lee (25) – Australia
Alex Noren (25) – Sweden
Taylor Pendrith (25) – Canada
Aaron Rai (25) – England
#Samuel Stevens (25)
CATEGORY 26: Top 50 on Official World Golf Ranking published week prior to current Masters
SPECIAL EXEMPTION: The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players otherwise not qualified