Report: Highly-rated 20-year-old rejects LIV Golf offer

LIV Golf have reportedly failed in their pursuit of a highly-rated youngster.

According to Matt Vincenzi of SI, 20-year-old Angel Ayora has rejected a contract offer from the breakaway tour.

Ayora is currently ranked 195th in the Official World Golf Ranking but is making a solid start to his career on the DP World Tour. 

He earned promotion to the circuit via the Challenge Tour's Road to Mallorca and has already posted two top-10 finishes in the Opening Swing. 

Ayora placed fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship last week and also finished sixth at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. 

He also shared 23rd place at the ISPS Handa Australian Open. 

"If I'm the PGA Tour, I find a way to get Angel Ayora a PGAT card," Vincenzi posted on X on 15 December.

"Reportedly turned down LIV. 20 year old stud, get him on Tour. Meritocracy, yeah sure. Need young stars now. As many as possible."

Ayora has attracted praise from former pro Rob Lee, who told Sky Sports' golf podcast that he will feature in the Ryder Cup one day.

"I watched him for three days be pretty perfect," Lee said of his performance at the Challenge Tour's grand final. 

"The swing, the short game, the power, the putting. All of it. He has got the complete package. 

"Temperament wise might be his strongest card. 

"So I think Angel Ayora from what I saw, and this is from four days of golf, I was super impressed with him. He is a Ryder Cup player in waiting.”

Given his nationality, it's not unreasonable to suggest that maybe Jon Rahm was trying to land Ayora.

The 2023 Masters champion has also been interested in signing fellow Callaway staffer Angel Hidalgo. 

Hidalgo pipped Rahm to the title at the 2024 Spanish Open in Madrid. 

Rahm has one vacant spot on his Legion XIII team to fill. His other teammates are Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt. 

Tony Finau has withdrawn from back-to-back PGA Tour events which prompted speculation the big American was on the verge of joining LIV. 

Finau has denied the reports and in a recent statement said his withdrawals relate to his recovery from knee surgery.

He said you can expect to see him tee it up in Hawaii next January, ending the rumours once and for all.

LIV Golf are ramping up their recruitment drive over the next few weeks before their third full season gets underway in Riyadh next February.

Lee Chieh-po won the golden ticket at LIV's Promotions event over the weekend. 

Before their qualifying school event began, Kevin Na confirmed Yubin Jang had agreed a deal to join his Iron Heads quartet. 

Jang was in the field at PGA Tour Q-School but withdrew at the last minute.

LIV have not announced any high-profile additions yet. 

There has been some transfer movement, though, with Thomas Pieters swapping from the RangeGoats to Dustin Johnson's 4 Aces.

Take a look at the LIV teams below to see how they are all shaping up:

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