Former amateur champion and LIV Golf circuit rebel James Piot prepares for the Rocket Classic. He’s set to be a part of PGA Tour history at this thrilling event as well! The 26-year-old top-ranked golfer from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has broken barriers. He’s the first of the players who left for LIV Golf to receive a sponsor exemption to play in a PGA Tour event. And now he’s gotten the coolest invitation of all—to join the field at the Detroit Golf Club. Yet his inclusion was officially settled on a Monday late in the afternoon.
Piot’s journey through professional golf is noteworthy. His decision to leave for LIV Golf in the summer of 2022 was no more surprising. He signed a two-year contract that presumably guarantees him at least $6 million. During his time with LIV, he had just a single top-10 finish—notching a T6 in Bangkok in October 2022. Piot was a member of captain Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC team. He flourished in the cut-throat milieu that captured national attention.
Things didn’t go as planned for Piot on the LIV circuit. He ended up 47th in individual points in 2023 and immediately after, got relegated down to the Asian Tour. Afterward, he entered the re-qualification school and became eligible to play on the PGA Tour once again in late October. This would be a pivotal moment in his career.
The Rocket Classic is important to Piot for multiple reasons. His return, as one of the first of the former LIV cartel players to return to the PGA Tour, will be a significant boon for the entire golfing ecosystem. His achievements are underscored by his previous title as the 2021 U.S. Amateur champion, a victory that highlighted his potential as a rising star in golf.
In light of this opportunity, Piot expressed his excitement, stating, “For it to actually happen is the coolest thing in the world.” His outlook matches the kind of love he’s gotten from supporters as he makes his move back to the PGA Tour.
Mark Hollis, MDOT Director, was instrumental in making this invitation happen for Piot. Milford spoke to the importance of this moment. “There was a lot of support, and it was one of the happiest calls I’ve made,” he said.
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