Rumors linking PGA Tour standout Sungjae Im to a potential move to LIV Golf began circulating this week, sparking immediate conversation across social media and golf media. As speculation grew–fueled by recent reports of other PGA Tour players considering similar jump–fans waited to see whether Im might be the latest name attached to LIV’s ongoing recruitment wave.
For a player of Im’s stature and consistency, any suggestion of a possible departure carried weight. With the golf world watching and narratives forming quickly, questions mounted about his future and whether there was any truth behind the chatter.
Im Shuts Down the Rumor With a Sharp Instagram Response
Im took to his Instagram story and addressed the chatter directly, posting a simple but unmistakable two-word message: “Fake news”–accompanied by a thumbs-down emoji. It was brief, pointed, and delivered with the tone of someone simply setting the record straight about a storyline he had no interest in fueling.
Willy Wilcox, Im’s caddie, also stepped into the conversation, taking to social media to reinforce the message and add some color to the situation. In his own post, he dismissed the rumors in a humorous way, emphasizing how absurd the speculation was and making it clear the team had no discussions, negotiations, or even passing interest in a move to LIV Golf.
“This just in.. Sung Jae signs deal with NASA to play in new space tour with events on mars and neptune.”
Im’s Game Speaks for Itself – Strong Season, No Shift in Focus
Part of why the rumor grabbed attention is because Im remains one of the PGA Tour’s most consistent performers. The 27-year-old has already won twice on Tour (2020 The Honda Classic, ‘21 Shriners Children’s Open), posted multiple top-10 finishes during the 2025 season, and has three international wins (2019 Genesis Championship, 2023 & ’24 Woori Financial Group Championship). His steady play, elite ball-striking, and ability to contend on a wide variety of courses make him a fixture on PGA leaderboards and a respected presence in big events. Im has made an estimated $34,982,404 since joining the Tour in 2019.
For a player with that kind of trajectory, switching tours wouldn’t just be a career move; it would be headline-shaking. Im has steadily climbed the world rankings and has built a reputation on reliability: rarely missing cuts, consistently finishing strong, and establishing himself as one of the PGA Tour’s most bankable week-to-week players.
That level of stability and upward momentum makes his response to the rumor even more believable. He has no incentive to look elsewhere, and nothing in his recent performance suggests otherwise.
How the Rumor Started
The spark that ignited all this appears to trace back to a separate story: Si Woo Kim’s reported negotiations with LIV Golf. As news of Kim’s potential move spread (itself still unconfirmed), other Korean players were suddenly pulled into the conversation. Some outlets speculated that more PGA Tour winners from South Korea might follow, fueling a wave of guesses and unverified reports.
Im’s name got swept into that momentum, not because of anything he said or did, but because the narrative surrounding Kim created a pathway for broader speculation. According to Sports Illustrated, “there is a 0% chance he is leaving the PGA Tour.”
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