The swings and swings between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour continue to rock the offseason. Many players have changed teams in recent months, while others have confirmed they will stay put.
Akshay Bhatia now seems to be in the latter group. According to a new reportBhatia turned down a hefty price tag from LIV to stay on the PGA Tour.
Here’s what you need to know.
Akshay Bhatia turns down ‘lucrative’ LIV contract: Report
Bhatia is poised to have one of the brightest futures of any young professional golfer. Still only 23, the California native is already a household name among golf enthusiasts.
After spending time on the mini-tours, Bhatia won in his first Korn Ferry Tour start at the 2022 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.
But 2023 was the year he broke through in a big way. He earned partial status on the PGA Tour in early 2023 thanks to some strong finishes through sponsor exemptions. And then he made it count.
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Shortly thereafter, he captured his first Tour victory at the 2023 Barracuda Championship. He earned his second Tour victory at the 2024 Valero Texas Open, eventually finishing T23 in the final FedEx Cup standings that year.
While he didn’t win again in 2025, Bhatia improved his FedEx Cup finish to 13th. He is currently ranked 46th in the Official World Golf Ranking
All of this means that he is one of the best PGA Tour pros alive, and he would be a huge asset to LIV Golf.
But Bhatia is not going anywhere in 2026.
According to one report by Golf Channel’s Rex HoggardBhatia was recently offered a “lucrative contract” to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf. But Bhatia chose to decline that offer and will continue his PGA Tour career this season.
This is joined by Bhatia invents, TOUGH AND Im Sungjae as high-profile PGA Tour winners who have turned down LIV offers for 2026.
Brooks Koepka, one of LIV’s biggest stars, is leaving LIValthough his next move is unknown. PGA Tour winner Thomas Detry, on the other hand, is said to be moving to LIV this season.
