“South African golf stars Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen have announced their departures from LIV Golf, opting to return to full-time competition on the DP World Tour in 2027 as uncertainty surrounds the breakaway league’s future. Their decisions leave the all-South African Southern Guards with Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester still associated with the team, while creating fresh opportunities for the departing players to pursue individual success on the international golf circuit.”
South African golf enters a significant period of change
South African professional golf is facing a notable transition following the decisions of Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen to leave LIV Golf and return to the DP World Tour. The announcements, made in October 2026, represent a major development for the country’s presence in international golf and raise questions about the future of the Southern Guards, the all-South African team that competed in LIV Golf.
Grace confirmed his departure on 23 October, following Oosthuizen’s announcement earlier in the week. Both players expressed appreciation for their experiences with LIV Golf while indicating that returning to the DP World Tour offered a better path for the next stage of their careers.
The decisions come at a time when LIV Golf is considering a new structure for its future. Changes in financial backing, uncertainty about the league’s proposed relaunch and departures by several prominent players have intensified scrutiny of the competition.
For South African golf supporters, the developments are particularly significant because Grace and Oosthuizen have established themselves among the country’s leading international performers. Their return to the DP World Tour could renew attention on South African golfers competing in traditional international events and provide fresh opportunities for fans to follow familiar names across the season.
Branden Grace chooses a familiar competitive environment
Grace’s decision marks a return to a circuit where he achieved many of the most important victories of his career. The 38-year-old has nine DP World Tour titles and 15 professional victories worldwide, including two PGA Tour titles. His achievements include victories at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Investec South African Open, the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
His record also includes a notable performance at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where he recorded a 62 in the third round. That score remains the lowest single-round total recorded in men’s major championship history.
Grace described his return to the DP World Tour as coming home, reflecting the significance of the circuit in his professional development. His statement also emphasised his motivation to compete again and build another chapter in his career.
The move gives Grace an opportunity to concentrate on individual results in an environment where he has already demonstrated his ability to win. Although his achievements in LIV Golf form part of his recent professional history, the DP World Tour offers a familiar competitive structure and a calendar featuring tournaments in multiple countries.
His experience could be valuable as he seeks to remain competitive against established professionals and emerging players. However, a return to a familiar tour does not guarantee immediate success. Grace will need to maintain consistency, manage the demands of international travel and adapt to the fields and conditions he encounters throughout the season.
Louis Oosthuizen also returns to the DP World Tour
Oosthuizen’s departure carries additional significance because he served as captain of the Southern Guards and helped define the team’s identity. The 2010 Open Championship winner announced that he would not re-sign with LIV Golf for its next chapter, instead planning to return to the DP World Tour in January 2027.
The South African has explained that control over his schedule was an important consideration. He believes he still has several productive years of competitive golf ahead of him and wants a schedule that allows him to prepare effectively and manage his physical demands.
His decision illustrates the importance of balancing playing opportunities, travel requirements and long-term career goals. For professional golfers, choosing a tour involves more than evaluating prize money or tournament formats. The calendar can influence training, recovery, family commitments and the ability to maintain competitive sharpness.
Oosthuizen also made clear that leaving LIV Golf does not diminish his affection for the Southern Guards or the teammates with whom he shared the experience. His departure therefore represents a professional decision rather than a rejection of the relationships built during his time with the league.
His return is noteworthy because the DP World Tour is where he established himself as an international professional. Revisiting familiar courses and competing in established events may offer opportunities to reconnect with a circuit that played a significant role in his development.
The Southern Guards face an uncertain future
The departures of Grace and Oosthuizen have placed the future of the Southern Guards under renewed scrutiny. The team was built around four South African golfers: Oosthuizen, Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester.
With the first two players leaving LIV Golf, Schwartzel and Burmester remain the other members associated with the team. Their future plans, however, should not be assumed without further official announcements.
he Southern Guards represented an opportunity to showcase South African talent through a team-based format. The model allowed supporters to follow familiar players together while competing against international teams.
Oosthuizen previously highlighted the significance of bringing LIV Golf to South Africa, particularly the league’s tournament at Steyn City in March 2026. The event provided local supporters with an opportunity to see international golf in a high-profile team competition.
That experience helped connect the team with a wider South African audience. However, the departure of its captain and another prominent player creates uncertainty about how the team might operate if the league proceeds with its planned restructuring.
A team’s future depends on several factors, including its player commitments, the league’s financial position, the competition format and the commercial arrangements available to sponsors. Until more details are confirmed, the Southern Guards’ long-term direction remains unclear.
LIV Golf confronts wider structural challenges
The South African players’ decisions form part of a broader period of change for LIV Golf. The league has faced questions about its funding model and plans for a potential 2027 relaunch, often described in reporting as LIV Golf 2.0.
Reuters reported in October that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had withdrawn its financial backing, while the league explored its next steps and potential alternative investment. Several well-known players have also announced or been reported to be considering departures.
These developments have created uncertainty for players deciding whether to remain with the league or pursue other opportunities. A revised competition structure could change the number of tournaments, travel requirements and the overall proposition for golfers considering future contracts.
Nevertheless, LIV Golf’s longer-term position should not be treated as settled. Financial restructuring, investor decisions and player commitments can change the outlook, and the precise future of the competition depends on developments beyond the decisions of individual golfers.
For South African players, the situation highlights the importance of evaluating the wider competitive landscape. A tour’s financial strength matters, but so do the quality of its fields, the opportunities to compete in major championships and the ability to build a sustainable career.
What the return means for South African golf
Grace and Oosthuizen returning to the DP World Tour could help maintain South Africa’s visibility in international professional golf. Both players have considerable experience, strong competitive records and recognition among golf followers at home and abroad.
Their presence may also create opportunities for local supporters to follow them at tournaments where South African golfers have historically enjoyed success. National Opens and established international events can help connect professional golf with audiences in the country where the players began their careers.
However, the effect on South African golf will depend on more than two individual decisions. The strength of the country’s professional game also relies on emerging players, development programmes, sponsorship, access to facilities and opportunities for young golfers to compete internationally.
South Africa has a long history of producing internationally successful golfers. Maintaining that position requires a pathway from junior participation to professional competition, supported by coaches, clubs, governing bodies and commercial partners.
The return of experienced players could contribute to the sport’s profile, but younger golfers must still earn their own opportunities through performance. The broader benefit will depend on whether the renewed attention translates into sustained interest, participation and investment.
The importance of scheduling and competitive opportunities
A central theme in Oosthuizen’s decision is the importance of controlling his playing schedule. Professional golf places significant physical and mental demands on athletes, especially when tournaments require frequent international travel.
A carefully managed calendar can help players balance competition with practice and recovery. It can also make it easier to prepare for events that suit their strengths and career ambitions.
For Grace, returning to a tour where he has already won multiple titles may provide a useful foundation. Nevertheless, both players will face competitive fields containing experienced champions and younger golfers eager to establish themselves.
Their results will ultimately depend on performance rather than reputation. Maintaining accuracy, controlling scoring opportunities and handling pressure in decisive rounds will remain essential to their prospects.
Their decisions also underline how professional golfers must regularly reconsider their options as tours evolve. What makes sense at one stage of a career may become less attractive when schedules, finances or personal priorities change.
What happens next?
Attention will now turn to the players’ preparations for the 2027 season and to any further announcements concerning LIV Golf and the Southern Guards.
For Grace and Oosthuizen, the immediate priority will be returning to full-time DP World Tour competition and establishing themselves within the coming season’s schedule. Their previous achievements offer evidence of their ability, although future results remain uncertain.
For Schwartzel and Burmester, the next steps will depend on their own decisions and the arrangements that emerge from LIV Golf’s restructuring. Neither player’s long-term plans should be assumed solely from the departures of their teammates.
Golf supporters and industry observers will also be watching how the tour landscape develops. Changes in player participation can influence tournament fields, sponsorship interest and the relationship between professional tours.
Conclusion
The departures of Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen mark an important moment for South African golf. Their return to the DP World Tour reflects individual career priorities while highlighting the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf and the future of the Southern Guards.
Both players bring considerable experience and proven achievements to their next chapter. Their challenge will be to turn that experience into strong performances against international competition.
For South African golf, their decisions offer an opportunity to renew interest in established tournaments and follow two familiar professionals as they return to a traditional tour. Yet the lasting impact will depend on their results, the future of the Southern Guards and the continued development of the country’s next generation of golfers.
As the 2027 season approaches, the story is not simply about players leaving one league for another. It is also about how professional golfers adapt to a changing sport, make decisions about their careers and pursue the competitive opportunities they believe will serve them best.
