- - NCAA champ Michael La Sasso forfeits college eligibility, Masters invite to join Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf team

Chris Cwik January 21, 2026 at 2:33 AM

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Michael La Sasso is heading to LIV Golf. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) (Jonathan Bachman via Getty Images)

Ole Miss golfer Michael La Sasso, who won the 2025 NCAA championship, will forfeit the rest of his college eligibility to join Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC team with LIV Golf.

La Sasso confirmed the news with a statement Tuesday, saying he was excited to learn from Mickelson and begin his professional career "at the highest level on a global stage."

“I’m incredibly excited to join HyFlyers GC and take this next step in my career,” La Sasso said in a release. “It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I don’t take that lightly. LIV Golf allows me to compete at the highest level on a global stage, and I thrive in a team environment, especially one with the camaraderie and support that defines HyFlyers GC. My focus is on learning, continuing to improve, and doing everything I can to help our team succeed.”

Mickelson had nothing but good things to say about La Sasso in that statement, calling him one of the "most exciting young players in the game."

The team also introduced La Sasso in a tweet Tuesday, in which Mickelson continued to hype up the former Rebel.

Welcome to the team, 2025 NCAA Individual Champion, Michael La Sasso!#HyFlyersGC #LIVGolf #michaellasasso pic.twitter.com/VzhNXFB6FU

— HyFlyers GC (@HyFlyers_GC) January 20, 2026

With the move, La Sasso also forfeits his Masters invite, which he earned after winning the 2025 NCAA Championship. La Sasso's participation in the Masters in April was contingent on him remaining an amateur. By signing with LIV Golf, La Sasso no longer has that designation.

La Sasso will reportedly finish his degree online, per The Athletic, and is expected to make his first LIV Golf appearance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February.

The 21-year-old La Sasso played golf at North Carolina State before breaking out with Ole Miss, where he was an first team All-American ahead of both seasons he was with the Rebels. He appeared in six PGA Tour events as an amateur, though missed the cut at five of those events, including the 2025 U.S. Open.

La Sasso is not the first NCAA player to make the leap to LIV Golf. The organization signed 2021 NCAA champ Turk Pettit ahead of its first season in 2022. Last year, LIV Golf brought on Arizona State senior Josele Ballester, who was considered one of the top amateur golfers in the United States before signing with LIV.

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Source: “AOL Sports”