As Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia depart, Varner’s path stands out: he has stayed with LIV since its first season and is entered in the upcoming Hong Kong Open.
The list of golfers leaving LIV Golf keeps growing. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed have already moved on, while Sergio Garcia was formally released from his contract in October. Jon Rahm has also said he will not take part in the league’s proposed next chapter.
Harold Varner III, meanwhile, remains part of the conversation around LIV’s future—but he has not announced an exit. He has played every LIV season since joining in 2022, and was listed among the golfers entered in the Link Hong Kong Open, scheduled for October 22–25. That distinction matters as LIV tries to secure the players it needs for a planned 2027 season.
Varner has stayed through LIV’s changes
Varner joined LIV after establishing himself on the PGA Tour, where he earned his card through the Korn Ferry Tour and won the 2016 Australian PGA Championship. In 2023, he added a LIV victory in Washington, D.C. The league’s official profile says he has competed in every LIV season.
His team affiliations have shifted along the way. After playing for the RangeGoats and then the 4Aces, Varner joined Smash GC for 2026, taking a place in the lineup after Koepka’s departure. Varner said the chance to work with new captain Talor Gooch and the team’s direction helped inform his decision. His move was a change of team, not a departure from LIV.
A different situation from Koepka and Reed
Koepka left LIV in December 2025 and returned to the PGA Tour through a special program. Reed declined a new LIV contract after his deal expired and has played on the DP World Tour in 2026. Garcia’s release, granted during a court hearing, is another case with its own contract circumstances.
Those exits have not yet been matched by an announcement from Varner. As of October 10, he remains publicly associated with LIV and is listed for the Hong Kong Open. That does not settle his plans for 2027: LIV is still working to finance a relaunch, and reporting says players are being asked to commit to its next iteration. The league’s future, and individual players’ choices, remain in flux.
For now, Varner’s story is one of continuity amid a changing field. He has stayed with LIV through leadership changes, team moves and a major financial reckoning. Whether that continues into 2027 will depend on the league’s next steps—and on Varner’s own decision.
