In the spring of 2022, James Piot received an offer he couldn’t refuse.
It was from an upstart global golf league called LIV Golf.
At the time, Piot was the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and wrapping up a five-year run at Michigan State. But his first few PGA Tour appearances, procured by sponsor invites and his U.S.-Amateur-champion status, had been forgettable. In three starts — at Bay Hill, the Masters and Harbour Town — Piot missed the cut at each and broke 75 just twice. Welcome to the bigs, kid.
The call from Piot’s agent came on Piot’s long drive back from Harbour Town to his Michigan home. The young pro didn’t need to mull the opportunity long: guaranteed money (and lots of it), guaranteed starts, a team format with veteran players who would serve as mentors. He was in.
But not in perpetuity. In his first season on LIV, Piot, playing mostly for Niblicks GC (now Cleeks GC), finished 36th in the individual standings and maintained his playing status. But in his sophomore season, he was less successful. As a member of Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers, Piot finished 57th in the standings and was relegated. His last official LIV round was on Oct. 15, 2023, which is significant, because former LIV golfers must wait a year from their last LIV round before they are eligible to play on the PGA Tour.
Piot has drifted ever since. He has played a handful of events on the Asian Tour, had surgery on his left shoulder in 2024 and earlier this year made his first-ever Korn Ferry Tour start, missing the cut by one.
But this week marks a new opportunity for Piot: a PGA Tour start.
On Monday, Detroit’s PGA Tour event, the Rocket Classic, extended Piot a sponsor’s invitation, making him the first ex-LIV player to make his way to the PGA Tour by special invite. (Earlier this year, Laurie Canter of England became the first former LIV player, period, to play in an event sanctioned solely by the PGA Tour when he qualified for the Players Championship by way of his world ranking.)
Piot was planning to play in the Rocket’s Monday qualifier before the tournament extended the invite, The Detroit News reported.
“The fact I finally get to play in the Rocket Classic, it’s a dream come true,” said Piot, who before enrolling at Michigan State led Detroit Catholic Central to three consecutive state titles and won the Michigan Junior State Amateur. “Ever since the event was created on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.”
The Rocket Classic starts Thursday at Detroit Golf Club. Headlining the field are Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley and Hideki Matsuyama.
