Thomas Pieters arrived at Mayakoba last week as one of LIV Golf’s newest members, something he said he had been hoping for since last summer when the Saudi-backed league first launched. He was in good spirts, ready to compete and excited about joining as LIV kicked off its second season.
But after arriving in Mexico, the 31-year-old from Belgium found out the decision came with a consequence. Specifically, his manager Mark Steinberg would no longer handle his representation, according to reporting from the Fire Pit Collective’s Alan Shipnuck.
It appears as if Pieters didn’t see it coming. “Weirdest thing ever,” Pieters told Shipnuck. “He’s just gone.”
Steinberg’s agency, Excel Sports Management, represents Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar, among others. All the aforementioned players are firmly on the side of the PGA Tour and against LIV Golf, suggesting Steinberg dropped Pieters because of his latest leap.
Steinberg did not respond to a Golf Digest email seeking comment.
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for Pieters, a six-time winner on the DP World Tour who shot a two-over 215 total at El Camaleon Golf Club to finish tied for 32nd in the 48-player field (and earn $151,000). Prior to the Genesis Invitational, Pieters, who is not a PGA Tour member, sent out a tweet wondering how it was possible that, at No. 34 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he was not eligible to play at Riviera.
It seems he’s also now a man looking for a new manager.