John Catlin has set his sights on securing a permanent spot on the LIV Golf roster for 2025 – and the American star strengthened his case on the Asian Tour this weekend
Three-time DP World Tour winner John Catlin moved one step closer to securing a full-time move to LIV Golf after finishing second in the Asian Tour’s International Series event in Morocco.
Catlin was chasing his third victory in four Asian Tour starts in Morocco and fell just one shot short after finishing second behind Ben Campbell at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. It was bittersweet for the American, who missed out on the title after losing a one-hole playoff against Campbell.
The pair were tied at 15-under-par after four rounds of golf in North Africa after New Zealander Campbell chased down his American rival’s one-shot lead set one round earlier.
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And while Catlin went on to birdie the playoff hole at the par-five 18th, Campbell went one better, winning in style with a superb eagle, three. Despite the near-miss it was another impressive week for Catlin on the Asian circuit, which moved him into an outright lead in the International Series Order of Merit.
The man who comes out on top of the season-long standings at the end of the campaign earns promotion to the LIV setup for 2025, a route HyFlyers star Andy Ogletree was able to take advantage of last year. Catlin is aiming to follow in his fellow American’s footsteps and only aided his effort on Sunday.
He headed into this week’s tournament second in the Order of Merit list, only behind Carlos Ortiz, who is already a member of the LIV roster. Catlin’s runner-up finish this weekend however ensured he moved into the outright lead, as his impressive form in 2024 continued.
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Catlin is no stranger to the breakaway league, after his recent run was recognised by US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who brought in the Asian Tour star as an injury reserve for his Crushers GC team. Catlin replaced Charles Howell III at LIV Houston and LIV Nashville, impressing in the latter in particular.
Catlin finished seventh in Nashville, and having got a taste of life on the Saudi-backed series, he is hoping to make a permanent return in 2025. “[The international Series] is definitely priority one for me now,” Catlin said ahead of this week’s event at at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
“Having experienced the LIV Golf events, they are really cool. We are very well looked after and playing that calibre of field for that kind of money is something we all want. That is priority one and I am looking for what will unfold over the next eight events.”
One man who is more than aware of Catlin’s ability is DeChambeau. “He’s a fantastic golfer,” DeChambeau said last month. “I grew up playing some golf with him in northern California, and we had some battles early on in our careers, in junior golf even. He’s a stellar player. He’s shot in the 50s and won a few times this year now.”
