Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, and 3 Other Prominent PGA Tour Players Resign Immediately From the Tour and Join LIV Golf as Exposed PGA Tour “Unconventional Practices” Shake the Sport

Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, and 3 Other Prominent PGA Tour Players Resign Immediately From the Tour and Join LIV Golf as Exposed PGA Tour “Unconventional Practices” Shake the Sport

 

In what is being called the biggest mass defection in modern golf history, Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, and three other prominent PGA Tour players have resigned immediately and signed with LIV Golf—just hours after internal documents leaked detailing a series of “unconventional practices” allegedly used within the PGA Tour.

 

The shockwave hit the golf world overnight, leaving fans, officials, and fellow players scrambling for answers.

 

 

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A Midnight Announcement That Changed Everything

 

At exactly 12:01 a.m., LIV Golf released a coordinated video across all platforms: five silhouettes standing shoulder-to-shoulder, each dropping a PGA Tour badge onto the ground before walking toward a glowing LIV Golf emblem.

 

Seconds later, their identities were revealed:

 

Tom Kim

 

Sungjae Im

 

Lucas Merrin (Top-30 ranked, known for elite iron play)

 

Caleb Roth (One of the Tour’s longest hitters)

 

Victor Hale (Winner of two Tour events in the last three seasons)

 

 

The announcement ended with one message:

 

> “A new era begins when the old one stops listening.”

 

 

 

Within minutes, social media exploded.

 

 

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**What Forced the Exodus?

 

The Leaked PGAT Practices**

 

Earlier that evening, a 68-page document—allegedly from a former PGA Tour operations director—circulated online. The leak outlined a range of “unconventional internal practices,” including:

 

Strict, undocumented appearance mandates

 

Pressure to play through injuries under threat of ranking penalties

 

Unequal distribution of sponsor-driven bonuses

 

Reported restrictions on personal coaching changes

 

Private fines for “non-traditional” media engagement

 

 

While the PGA Tour has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the document, its rapid spread created the perfect storm.

 

Tom Kim, known for his polite demeanor but intense competitiveness, released a short statement:

 

> “Golf is supposed to be freedom, not fear. This decision is for my career, my health, and my future.”

 

 

 

Sungjae Im, who rarely speaks publicly about controversy, added:

 

> “When trust breaks, you move.”

 

 

 

The other three players declined comment, saying official statements would come from LIV Golf.

 

 

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LIV Golf Seizes the Moment

 

LIV Golf Commissioner Dane Harbridge held an emergency press conference at sunrise.

 

He praised the bravery of the defectors:

 

> “These five individuals did not leave for money. They left because they wanted to breathe.”

 

 

 

He confirmed each player would debut at LIV’s season opener in Dubai—notably scheduled just two weeks away, giving the PGA Tour virtually no time to respond.

 

 

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PGA Tour in Panic Mode

 

By morning, PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach reportedly entered what insiders called “crisis lockdown.”

 

According to an anonymous staff member:

 

> “Phones are ringing nonstop. This is worse than the first wave of defections in 2022.

Management didn’t think stars in their prime would ever walk.”

 

 

 

Rumors circulated that an emergency meeting with sponsors, TV partners, and board members had been scheduled within hours.

 

One veteran PGA Tour player wrote anonymously on a forum:

 

> “If what the leaked document says is true, this is only the beginning.”

 

 

 

 

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Fans React: Shock, Split, and Speculation

 

Golf Twitter turned into a battleground:

 

Some praised the players for “escaping a rigid system.”

 

Others criticized them for “abandoning tradition for chaos.”

 

Many simply wondered whether more departures were imminent.

 

 

One fan summed up the mood:

 

> “Golf hasn’t felt this unpredictable in years.”

 

 

 

 

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What Does This Mean for the Future of Golf?

 

Experts are already predicting:

 

More resignations in the coming weeks

 

Pressure on the PGA Tour to publicly address the leaked practices

 

A renewed rivalry between LIV and PGA Tour for global dominance

 

Possible player lawsuits on both sides

 

A splintering of major championship eligibility

 

 

Golf historian Marcus Reddington wrote:

 

> “This isn’t just a shift.

It’s a fracture.

The sport will never look the same again.”

 

 

 

 

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The Final Word — For Now

 

What began as a late-night leak has turned into a full-scale revolution.

Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Lucas Merrin, Caleb Roth, and Victor Hale may be only the first ones through the door—but their decision has forced the entire golfing world to look up.

 

And the biggest question is already echoing across clubhouses, studios, and social media: