'LIV Golf never offered me a deal despite being world No. 1 - my agent was told why'

Former world number one Jason Day has already explained why LIV Golf never made him an offer to join the Saudi-backed breakaway league. Despite being a major champion, having lifted the PGA Championship trophy in 2015, and previously holding the top spot in world golf, his fitness concerns proved too substantial for the rival circuit to table a contract, he acknowledged.

The Australian golfer has struggled with chronic back pain for more than a decade, leading him to try unconventional treatments, including blowing into balloons to reduce pressure on his spine. He claimed that his inability to stay fit was the reason he could not command a big cheque from the tour.

Speaking to Code Sports Australia last year, he revealed he remains content on the PGA Tour and a switch to LIV never materialised because an offer was never forthcoming. "What happened was, it was a business move to just go in and explore the potential of what would happen," the 36-year-old explained.

"I said [to my agent], 'No worries, I'm happy with where I'm at, but it's always nice to know.' And they [LIV Golf] said, 'We love Jason, but he's too injured; he just gets too many injuries" before adding with a laugh: "I don't blame them."

Following his PGA Championship triumph nearly 10 years ago, he's secured eight additional victories on the Tour, accumulating 13 tournament wins throughout his career. His most recent triumph arrived in 2023 at the AT&T Byron Nelson, ending a five-year barren spell.

Despite not having a tournament win this season, he has maintained a consistent level of play and is currently ranked No. 47 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He finished tied for eighth at the Masters earlier this season.

Day has also expressed his wish for the sport to reunite amid long-standing talks over a peace deal between the two tours.

A previous alleged agreement would see PIF acquire an 11 per cent stake in PGA Tour Enterprises, with LIV and Newcastle FC chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan assuming the role of chairman, but talks have rumbled endlessly for several years.

Discussing the potential merger, Day said: "I'm hoping we join back together because there's definitely a lot of players on the LIV tour that we miss on the PGA Tour. I've always played very central with LIV and just never really got in the politics of it all."