26-Year-Old Ex-LIV Golfer Set to Make PGA Tour Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 7:32 AM ET

The Rocket Classic tees off on Thursday with quite an impressive field, but a surprise last-minute addition is what grabbed the attention of the fans.

James Piot has been added to the field on an unrestricted sponsor’s exemption, the PGA Tour announced Monday. The event, set at Detroit Golf Club in Michigan, will feature 150 players competing for a $9.6 million purse.

Piot, 26, is a native of Farmington Hills and a 2021 U.S. Amateur champion. He turned professional in May 2022 and immediately joined LIV Golf, competing in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

He represented HyFlyers GC in LIV Golf before finishing 47th on the individual points list in 2023, which led to his relegation following the promotions event.

His final LIV appearance occurred in mid‑October 2023, marking the end of a two‑year stint with the breakaway tour.

Under PGA Tour rules, players who entered unauthorized events face a one‑year ban. Piot became eligible again in October 2024.

Multiple withdrawals from the Rocket Mortgage Classic field opened a slot, which organizers filled with Piot’s unrestricted sponsor’s exemption.

This marks Piot’s first PGA Tour start since 2022 when he competed in several invitationals, including the Masters and U.S. Open, but missed the cut in each.

The top shots of Keegan Bradley's season include two aces and a bunch of hole-outs.

Bradley has had a consistent 2025 with nine top-20s in 16 starts.

After his win, he's now ranked eighth in the #ComcastBusinessTOURTOP10. pic.twitter.com/OY7uvpGxMr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 23, 2025

Piot’s return to PGA Tour competition will be closely watched. Besides him, recent Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley is the one to watch going into this tournament. Another one being Charles Schwab winner Ben Griffin and rookie Luke Clanton.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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