Spain’s Puig to Make Pro Debut at LIV Golf Invitational Chicago
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. (September 12, 2022) – Having played two LIV Golf events as one of the world’s top-ranked amateurs, Spain’s David Puig will make his professional debut at this week’s LIV Golf Invitational Chicago.
The Arizona State senior announced his decision in a letter he wrote to Sun Devils fans and posted on his Instagram account Monday.
“Although it has probably been the hardest decision that I’ve ever made, I’ve decided to turn professional this week. However, I’m still an ASU student and plan to graduate in the next year,” he wrote.
Puig also thanked his Sun Devils coaches and teammates – “I know my success wouldn’t be the same without everyone,” – and added that he will continue to live in Tempe, Arizona.
Puig is the No. 9 ranked amateur according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking. In his last 15 amateur starts, he has one win and four other top 10 finishes. At last month’s U.S. Amateur, he reached the Round of 16 before losing to eventual champion Sam Bennett.
His most recent start was a tie for 4th on the individual leaderboard at the World Amateur Team Championships, where his Spanish team finished fifth.
Puig played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London, and also played at the event in Bedminster. His prize money for those two events would’ve been $267,000, but he did not accept the earnings in order to maintain his amateur status. The prize money was donated by LIV Golf to charities on Puig’s behalf.
The 20-year-old Puig will be the youngest player in this week’s field at Rich Harvest Farms. He’ll join Torque GC, captained by 23-year-old Joaquin Niemann of Chile.
Puig becomes the second highly ranked amateur from Spain to turn pro at a LIV Golf event. Former Oklahoma State golfer Eugenio Chacarra, then ranked as the No. 2 amateur, made his pro debut at LIV Golf Invitational Portland.
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About LIV Golf Investments
LIV Golf Investments is a newly formed company, with group companies in the USA and UK, and with Asian offices to follow. Its purpose is to holistically improve the health of professional golf on a global scale to help unlock the sports’ untapped potential. Greg Norman is the first and founding CEO of LIV Golf Investments. PIF, one of the world’s largest wealth funds, with a diverse international investment portfolio, is the majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments.
About Rich Harvest Farms
Located less than an hour outside of Chicago, Rich Harvest Farms is an ultra-private, members-only club, consistently ranked in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” Owned and built by Jerry Rich, the course consists of 18 perfectly manicured holes and is a 1,820-acre showcase of nature and agriculture. With state-of-the-art meeting spaces, numerous lodging options and non-golf amenities that include a private car museum, miles of horseback riding trails and three fully stocked lakes for fishing, Rich Harvest Farms offers distinguished facilities in a luxurious setting.
Rich Harvest Farms has and continues to play host to numerous amateur, collegiate, and professional tournaments. These includes the Arnold Palmer Cup (2021, 2015), Solheim Cup (2009), Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge (2012) and numerous USGA Qualifiers. This list also includes the Western Amateur (2003, 2015) and Western Junior (2003, 2019). Northern Illinois University Huskies Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams are proud to call Rich Harvest Farms their home course and so the following have also been hosted at the course: NCAA Men’s Division I Central Regional (2007, 2014), MAC Championship (2003, 2012), the annual Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate (2010-Present) and NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships (2017).
A hidden gem at Rich Harvest Farms is the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois, a nonprofit junior golf organization founded in 1998 by Jerry Rich and longtime friend Don Springer. Today, the Foundation has impacted the lives of over 250,000 youth through golf and its valuable life lessons.