In the spring of 2022, James Piot received an offer he could not refuse.
It was from a global golf league at Upsart named Liv Golf.
At the time, Piot was the US amateur champion and ended up a five-year run in Michigan State. But his first PGA Tour’s appearances, procured by Sponsor’s invitations and his US champion-Amarate status, had been forgotten. In three beginnings – in Bay Hill, Masters and Harbour Town – Piot lost cutting in each and broke 75 only twice. Welcome to Bigs, Kid.
Calling from Piot’s agent came into the long piot car city to his home in Michigan. The new pro it did not need to get the long opportunity: the money guaranteed (and many of them) begins guaranteed, a team format with veterans players who would serve as mentors. He was inside.
But not in eternity. In his first season in Liv, Piot, playing in the fires of Sergio Garcia, completed his 36th in the individual rankings and maintained his game status. But in his sophisticated season, he was less successful. As a member of the Hyflyers of Phil Mickelson, Piot ended up in 57th place in the ranking and moved. His latest official Liv was on October 15, 2023, which is significant because former Liv players should wait a year from their last round of Liv before being entitled to play in PGA Tour.
Piot has been moved since then. He has played a small part of the Asian tournament events, conducted surgery on his left shoulder in 2024 and earlier this year made his first start of Korn Ferry Tour, losing cutting from one.
But this week marks a new piot option: a PGA Tour Start.
On Monday, Detroit’s PGA Tour event, Rocket ClassicIt extended to the sponsor’s invitation, making him the first former living player to make his way to PGA Tour at a special invitation. (Early this year, Laurie Canter from England became the former Livi’s first playerperiod, to play in an event sanctioned only by PGA Tour when he qualified for the player championship through his world rankings.)
Piot was planning to play in the Monday Monday Qualification before the tournament extended the invitation, Detroit news reported.
“The fact that I have to finally play at Rocket Classic is a dream come true,” said Piot, who, before he enrolled in Michigan State, led the Central Catholic Detroit in three consecutive state titles and won the state amateur of Junior Michigan. “Ever since the event was created on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.”
Rocket Classic begins on Thursday at Detroit Golf Club. The title of the field are Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley and Hideki Matsuyama.
