Former Ryder Cup star fails to land LIV move

The door to a LIV Golf move has been slammed shut on one former Ryder Cup star.

The Saudi-backed league’s annual Promotions Event got underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today and 64 players were in action.

Only one player will secure the coveted place on LIV next season, after four days of ruthless shootout action in the desert.

And before Englishman Chris Wood had even got going, the 37-year-old’s race was run.

Wood, who was the low amateur in the 2008 Open Championship and tied for third in the following year’s tournament, had his sights on LIV after a tough couple of years.

But a round of two-over-par 71 saw him eliminated.

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It’s been a long eight years since he played in the 2016 Ryder Cup, and he has since bravely opened up on his recent battles with chronic anxiety and burnout.

Since returning in February, Wood made a first DP World Tour appearance in three years before playing a Challenge Tour season and two Asian Tour events.

The run readied him for a shot at the Promotions Event and, on Wednesday, he outlined the reasons behind teeing it up.

“Yeah, I think for me there’s a few things,” he said. “I’ve had a difficult few years, which has taken its toll on myself, which I’ve spoken a little bit about.

“I think the world of golf has so many opportunities now, and LIV has been the catalyst of that. It’s branched out, and it’s given players more opportunities to look at other ways of playing.

“I also think the schedule on LIV, there’s 14 events. I’ve been a pro for 16 years now, and I’ve got four children, and playing 28, 30, 35 tournaments, those days are probably behind me now.

“For players with families, playing less golf appeals. They’re quite sort of high up on the reasons why I’m here.”

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Meanwhile, several other big names failed to advance alongside Wood.

Sharing a tie for 56th place was ex-LIV man Jed Morgan, who played seven events in the circuit’s inaugural season before playing for Cam Smith’s Ripper GC in 2023.

Wade Ormsby, another Australian who played seven LIV events in 2022, was also eliminated.

Martin Trainer, a winner on the PGA Tour, and DP World Tour winner Adri Arnaus also missed the cut.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.